HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOR-2026-053 - Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education SessionStaff Report
Corporate Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: Monday, Jan. 26, 2026
SUBMITTED BY: Amaral, Nicole, innovation lab director 519-783-8175
PREPARED BY: Amaral, Nicole, innovation lab director 519-783-8175
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: December 3, 2025
REPORT NO.: COR -2026-053
SUBJECT: Al education session with Communitech
RECOMMENDATION:
That report COR -2026-007 Al education session with Communitech, be received for
information.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
• The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of the learning that council will gain
during this training session.
• The key finding of this report is the importance of developing Al literacy skills that will
assist council with making related future decisions.
• There are no financial implications related to this training.
• Community engagement: inform through the posting of this agenda, and also completed
with resident, staff and stakeholders as a part of the Digital Kitchener strategy review.
• This report supports the "stewarding a better city together" strategic plan theme and the
Digital Kitchener strategy review action within this theme.
BACKGROUND:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping how cities deliver service, make decisions, and
engage with residents. This education session builds upon a previous Council education
session held on February 12, 2024 at Communitech, where Professor Jimmy Lin provided
Council with an introduction to Al.
REPORT:
Staff have partnered with Communitech to deliver a 60 -minute training session focused on
Al.
In this session, councillors will gain a clear understanding of what artificial intelligence (AI)
is, how it works, and why it matters for municipal decision-making. The training will explore
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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practical examples of Al in public services, outline its benefits and limitations, and highlight
key considerations around ethics, privacy, and transparency.
This foundational knowledge is essential as Al increasingly shapes how cities deliver
services, allocate resources, and engage with residents.
By building Al literacy, councillors will be better equipped to evaluate technology proposals,
set ethical and privacy standards, and communicate confidently with the community. These
skills strengthen decision-making, governance, and public engagement, while supporting
strategic planning, resource optimization, and future -proof leadership as municipalities
adopt more digital and data -driven solutions.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports Stewarding a better city together: review of the Digital Kitchener
strategy.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no financial implications for this training session. Staff have utilized the City's
trusted strategic partnership with Communitech to deliver this training delivered by:
• Sheldon McCormick, CEO
• Matthew Klassen, VP, External Relations
• Carrie MacGillivray, Executive in Residence
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM — This report has been posted to the City's website with the agenda in advance of
the council / committee meeting.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
FCS -24-068: Digital Kitchener Innovation Lab exploration of Al
APPROVED BY: Victoria Raab, GM — corporate services
ATTACHMENTS: None
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