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Awards and Recognition

Numerous awards for a variety of achievements and challenges each year. Awards are handed out at our annual BeSpatial Event. 

Click here for a Print version

  

Best Challenge Awards

Best Innovation in GIS Award - The Innovation in GIS award is presented to individuals or organizations who have newly demonstrated or refined innovation in a geospatial and information (GIS) related application including analytics, technology, visualization or smart initiatives through a specific piece of work or project.

Best Public Sector GIS Award - Presented to public sector organizations that have effectively harnessed geospatial and information services, significantly enhancing efficiency, effectiveness, and decision-making processes within their operations. This has resulted in tangible improvements in business solutions and support.

Small Organization GIS Award - This category aims to acknowledge the outstanding achievements of small organizations (1-2 GIS staff) that have showcased exceptional capabilities and impact in geospatial and information services, overcoming challenges posed by limited team size and resources.

Open Source GIS & Open Data - This award recognizes individuals or projects that have made significant contributions to the development, promotion, or utilization of open-source geospatial technologies. It specifically highlights efforts in fostering collaboration and accessibility through the use of open-source GIS tools and leveraging open data.

  

Best Public Sector GIS

2024 Gold Award: Georgina Fire & Rescue Services

2023 Gold Award: City of Greater Sudbury

2022 Gold Award: City of Hamilton

2021 Gold Award: City of Guelph


Innovation in GIS

2024 - HealthyPlan.City

2023 Gold Award: Infrastructure Ontario

2022 Gold Award: Region of Peel

2021 Gold Award: City of Richmond Hill: Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) tool

Small Organization GIS 

2024 Gold Award: The West Parry Sound Geography Network



Open Source GIS & Open Data

2024 Gold Award:  Niagara Open Data Community Consortium


People's Choice MApps Awards

2024

Best App: City of Mississauga - Mississauga's 50th Anniversary

Best Map: Andie Herstek- Rooted in History: Calgary's Heritage Trees


2023

Best App: Town of Orangeville - Street Tree Reporter

Best Map: Municipality of Clarington - Distribution and Abundance of the Caribou in the Yukon


2022

Best App:  City of Mississauga - eParks Interactive Map Viewer Application 

Best Map: Shahzaib Saleem City of Rotterdam Thematic Map

2021

Best App:  District of Muskoka - Floodline and LiDAR Mapping  

Best Map: Nebyu Woldeyohanes -Debris Flows in the Bow River Valley, between Banff and Lake Louise, using DEMs

2020

Best App: City of Kitchener - Kitchener's Speed Zone Analysis

Best Map: Town of Newmarket - Central York Fire Services - 2018 In Review

Link to MApps (Maps and Apps) Award page

Nathan Adams Student Bursary Award

2024 - Ellen Plesko, Fleming College

2023 - Hannah Flores, University of Toronto

2022 - Melissa Jade Greco, University of Waterloo

2021 - Xuyang Han, York University

2019 - Devon Kleinjan, Guelph University

Link to student Bursary Page



35 Year Members - Founders Club

Alex Miller, President, Esri Canada

Jury Konga, Go Open Data, Executive Director

Lou Milrad, Legal Advisory services

Ron Jaros, Former Region of Peel

Sandra Crutcher, BeSpatial Ontario,  Executive Director, former City of Toronto

30 Year Members - Diamond Jubilee Club

Raphael Sussman, Raphael Sussman Consulting Services

Jerry Crawford, True North Digital Mapping

John Houweling, York Region

Andy Mackie, Teranet Inc. 

25 Year Members - Silver Jubilee Club

Jason Davis, County of Renfrew

Jaroslaw Losko, Independent

Janet Vittie, GISP, City of Niagara Falls

Garry T. Hunter, Hunter and Associates

    Dave Salter, Niagara Region

URISA International Chapter Award

URISA Ontario Wins 2011 Chapter of the Year Award from URISA International

The 2011 award marks the third year that URISA Ontario has won Chapter of the year (also won chapter of the year in 2003, and 1996).

URISA Ontario Service Awards

2020 - Catherine Fitzgerald (2009-19)

2019 - Dianne Adams (2017-19)

2019 - Jasna Filipovic (2012-19)

2019 - Jeremy Luymes (2015-19)

2019 - Scott Barbacki (2017-19)

2015 - Lena Gomes (2008-15)

2013 - Susan Port: (2006-2013)

2013 - Chris Wilkinson: (2006-2013)

2012 - Dianne Adams: (2008-2012)

2012 - Melanie Wawryk (2008-2012)

2001 - Antoni Wisnioski

2001 - Patrick McDade


2011 Chapter of the year award

President Lena Gomes accepting the Chapter of the year award from Cy Smith, 2011 URISA International president. at URISA International's annual general meeting.

Current Management Board & Past Presidents of the Ontario Association

Past URISA presidents

Top to bottom: Lou Milrad, Sandra Crutcher, Jury Konga, Ron Jaros, Nigel Roberts, Lena Gomes, Al Little and Catherine Fitzgerald.

President's Club (1987-2023)

Peter Hettstedt (Current)

Susan Muleme Kasumba (Immediate Past President)

Catherine Fitzgerald

Al Little

Lena Gomes

Catherine Baldelli

Tim Hu

Nigel Roberts

Ron Jaros

Donna Edwards

Jury Konga

Sandra Crutcher

Lou Milrad

John Houweling

George Lysenko


Back row: left to right: Hanna Sjostrom, Susan Muleme Kasumba, Courtney Dunn, James Burn, Melanie Wawryk, Jeff Norris, Jackie Smith, Jax Vollmer, Andrew Lyszkiewicz

Front row: left to right: Wendy Baldin, Peter Hettstedt, Sandra Crutcher, Brooke Hewitt

Missing: Jennifer Gross, Michael Daleo, Andrea McEachern


About Us

We are recognized as the premier geospatial and information non-profit organization in Ontario. where members share their experiences through networking and program events for the use and integration of spatial data, information, applications and technologies that provide solutions and solve challenges in both the public and private sectors.


Become a Member

Show your commitment to the Geospatial Community by joining us. Be part of a dynamic geospatial and information community whose mandate is to advance the effective application of spatial and information to enable business services and decision making.  

MEMBER BENEFITS

 Education and research.

 Networking.

 Discounts and member-only events.

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