To advance digital equity and support economic competitiveness, Chris initiated and led the development of York Region’s first Broadband Strategy—a comprehensive roadmap to improve connectivity for businesses, residents, and the public sector across the Region.

Developed in partnership with York Region’s nine local municipalities, the strategy was shaped through extensive engagement with major telecommunications providers including Bell, Rogers, and Telus. It outlined a clear action plan organized around three pillars:

Education & Advocacy: Building awareness of connectivity’s role in regional growth and resilience.
Municipal Processes: Streamlining approvals and leveraging infrastructure projects to accelerate broadband expansion.
Infrastructure Investment: Identifying priority projects to strengthen network coverage and capacity.

The strategy provided a strong foundation for coordinated action across all levels of government and the private sector to close connectivity gaps and unlock new opportunities for York Region’s growing communities.

Chris initiated and project managed the development of the York Region Broadband Strategy which provides a roadmap for improved connectivity for businesses, residents and the public sector in York Region.

The Strategy was developed in partnership with York Region's nine local municipal partners (Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Aurora, King, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and Georgina). To assist in developing the Strategy, large and small telecommunications companies were also engaged, including Bell, Rogers and Telus, to help shape the strategy's targets, recommendations and work plan.

The Strategy provides a range of recommended actions focusing on three key areas:

Education and Advocacy - these actions focus on educating stakeholders on the importance of connectivity to their and the Region's success.
Municipal Processes - these actions focus on ways municipal processes, such as access agreements and road re-construction projects, can be leveraged to encourage investments in connectivity infrastructure.
Infrastructure Investments - these actions focus on identifying a range of infrastructure investments to improve connectivity for residents, businesses and the public sector.

To view the strategy visit: www.investinyork.ca/broadband.