Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the membership survey! We were able to use the feedback and suggestions from our members to help plan events for the upcoming year. 

Congratulations to the following members who won gift cards for filling out the survey:

• Juliana Pentikainen
• Anik Hagen-Menard
• Matthew Wierdsma
• Simon Morris

A special shoutout to Kevin Farrugia who was the 23rd survey respondent and won an Apple AirTag!

We heard a few common themes throughout the suggestions and can provide the following updates:

• For those of you who asked for in-person events outside of the GTA: We have recently hosted an Eastern event and have 2 upcoming events in Cambridge.
• For those of you who asked for webinars at different times other than 12 and 1: In our 2023/2024 program schedule we will be implementing more webinar time frames.

The 2023 Eastern Section 'Learn What I Learned' Regional Event, took place in Kingston, Ontario, on June 29, 2023.

A recap:

This Regional Event was created based on the feedback gathered during a Pre-Event Survey that was sent to Eastern Members in November 2022 and again in March 2023.

The Pre-Event Survey indicated that 65% of the respondents were interested in attending an 'In-Person' event, 53% indicated that Kingston, Ontario, would be a suitable location, 59% indicated that 1/2 day event was preferred and 57% indicated that June was the preferred month. 

The top 5 themes that people demonstrated interest about included:

• 'Web Applications' (57%)
• 'What Others are Working On' (53%)
• 'Best Practices' (50%)
• 'Innovations' (47%)
• 'NG-911' (47%)

The presenters and panelists were selected based on this feedback.

Keynote: Dr. Barry Wellar, presented about best practices with respect to access to geo-records by the public

Presenters:

• Marc Curtis, AGSI spoke about NG-911
• Casey Price, Environics Analytics and Paul Voegtle, Esri Canada presented on how Demographic Data and Esri Web Solutions are being utilized to inform Economic Development
• The Panelists spoke about projects that they were working on, which included examples of Web Applications and Innovative Solutions that support Municipal Operations

There were 39 people in attendance.

If you attended the event and have not yet had the opportunity to fill out the Post-Event Survey please fill out the survey at this link. We value your feedback and will integrate it into future events.  

If you were unable to attend the Eastern Regional Event, please fill out the Pre-Event Survey at this link. so that we can design the next event based on your interests.

These Regional Events are meant to create an environment that fosters professional development and networking so please take a few moments to fill out the Survey.

Your feedback is key to maximizing your investment in membership and ensuring the success of future events.  Thank you!

Moderator and Event organizer: Marikka Williams, MSc, GISP, BeSpatial Eastern Section Manager.

Now accepting proposals for Fall/Winter 2023 and Spring 2024. 

Some great webinars continue as we rollout planned webinars for the upcoming year.  

Some of these webinars may sound familiar to BeSpatial annual event attendees and you would be right! These amazing presenters from BeSpatial's annual event have agreed to provide a more detailed presentation from their BeSpatial event session.  Stay tuned for more information and registration details!

Interested in offering a Webinar? Contact Wendy Programs

Health and the Environment using GIS - A BeSpatial Western Event

BeSpatial is thrilled to announce the upcoming Health and the Environment using GIS Event! This highly anticipated gathering will delve into the dynamic realm where Geographic Information Systems (GIS), health, and the environment intersect, promising a day of insightful discussions and knowledge exchange.

Event Details:

October 24, 2023

Cambridge Hotel and Conference Centre, 700 Hespeler Rd, Cambridge ON

What Awaits You:

Engaging Presentations: Esteemed speakers will share groundbreaking research, compelling case studies, and practical applications of GIS in addressing health and environmental challenges. Their valuable insights are sure to inspire you!

Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow attendees who share your ardor for GIS, healthcare, and environmental solutions. Build meaningful professional connections and foster collaboration.

Interactive Q&A Sessions: Engage in lively and enriching Q&A discussions with our esteemed speakers. Pose questions and delve deeper into the GIS applications presented.

Best Practices: Immerse yourself in learning best practices from others showcasing the latest GIS tools and technologies. Witness firsthand how GIS is revolutionizing healthcare and environmental efforts.

How to Register:

We encourage early registration, as seats are limited, and we anticipate a high demand for this remarkable event.

Registration fees:

Member $100

Non-Member $175

Student $75

Your contribution plays a crucial role in supporting the event and ensuring its success.

Join the Movement: Together, let us be a driving force behind positive change and the pursuit of a healthier, more sustainable world through the power of GIS. We envision this event as a catalyst for innovative solutions and lasting impact.

Save the Date, Share the Invitation: Mark your calendars and extend our invitation to your peers and colleagues. Your presence will undoubtedly enrich the event, and we hope to see you there!

Board of Directors Executive Director,  Sandra Crutcher Immediate Past President,  Susan Muleme Kasumba  Director, President, Peter Hettstedt Director, Andrew Lyszkiewicz Director, 1st Vice President,  Wendy Baldin Director, 2nd Vice President,  Melanie Wawryk Director, Treasurer, Brooke Hewitt Director, Secretary,  Hanna Sjostrom Director, Jeff Norris Director,  James Burn Standing and Ad Hoc Committee Managers BeSpatial/AGM Project Management: TBA BeSpatial Consultant: Mohamed Nishath Communications: James Burn Education: Courtney Dunn Finance: Brooke Hewitt Membership: Hanna Sjostrom Programs: Wendy Baldin Strategy & Outreach: Susan Muleme Kasumba & Andrew Lyszkiewicz Web: Jeff Norris Eastern Section: Marikka Williams Western Section: Melanie Wawryk Northern Section: James Dorland and Angela McEachern  (YPN): TBA

Welcome 2023 Management Board! We're excited to have such talented professionals join us in moving BeSpatial forward. Stay tuned for their director profiles to come in future eNews.

Ontario Elevation Mapping Program

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) was tasked to create a Provincial mapping program in support of the Ontario Flooding Strategy. Elevation data for regions across the province was decades old in some places. Severe flood events are becoming common-place. The financial burden to individuals, businesses and the province was growing. The need for high resolution mapping to support the flood strategy has been great.

Land Information Ontario (LIO) Imagery Acquisition Program

An overview of the Ontario Imagery Program including current and past acquisition activities, upcoming acquisitions, technical details and how to access Imagery. The presentation will also outline the benefits of the program.

Giving Ontario an EDGE: Bio-economy market development through collaboration

CRIBE's Forest EDGE helps to bridge the gap of information needed to grow Ontario’s Bioeconomy. Forest EDGE is a collaborative project, maximizing the strengths of different organizations to bring an intuitive web platform for economic development and investment attraction.

Find out more...

For the last several years, ESRI has released significant volumes of information concerning the coming end of life for ArcMap and the Geometric Network (GN) and the move to ArcGIS Pro and Utility Network (UN). Despite the impending timelines, few GIS decision makers have started to truly plan for a UN implementation. This presentation will focus on the ten major items to consider when planning to implement a UN solution.

Learn more...

NG911 Municipal Data Preparation

Local public safety operations for emergency service response has to be efficient, fast and effective. See how this is possible with Next Generation 911 (NG911). NG 911 is fast approaching.  Learn what it means, its requirements, components and benefits to the community.  We will explore the existing and new NG911 systems, public safety access points, real time data, obstacles and municipal data preparation.  An overview of the required NG911 geospatial data and its structure will be examined.

City of Guelph and Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) Database Development and Data Load for NG9-1-1

The City of Guelph was selected, alongside its partner Esri Canada, as the Canadian city to lead the development of a next-generation emergency services geographic information system (GIS) database. This innovative partnership was awarded $1.017 million in federal grant funding and will support critical enhancements in public safety in Guelph and across Canada, as the country implements a modernized Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) emergency response system. Improved call routing through use of GIS point in polygon processes is one of the drivers of NG9-1-1.

Read more...

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY A GAME? 

Test your GIS knowledge at the first-ever Teranet Geospatial Trivia event and play to win! Join this fun and informative game featuring a series of questions, images, and sounds from around the World. Don't miss this chance to challenge your GIS and non-GIS knowledge and to top the leaderboard. 

Prizes will be awarded to the top three participants:

• 1st Place: $500.00 pre-paid MasterCard gift card* and Full Bragging Rights
• 2nd Place: $250.00 pre-paid MasterCard gift card* 
• 3rd Place: $100.00 pre-paid MasterCard gift card* 
• 4th Place & Beyond: A half hour of fun and excitement with your friends and colleagues.

Running against time - Workflow enhancements using FME, ArcMap & python scripting to find creative solutions for today's problems

Graphics & Visualization team in City Planning's mission was to build an automation tool capable of creating report maps connected to the development review process for community council. This project aligned to the City's Strategic priority of "Modernization", as well as technology innovation and paperless transaction.