GIS leader supports GeoIgnite conference and the Canadian Geospatial Forum to help advance Canada’s geospatial future
OTTAWA—March 26, 2026—GoGeomatics Canada and Esri Canada today announced Esri Canada will participate as a Bronze Sponsor of GeoIgnite 2026 and will support the Canadian Geospatial Forum, which opens the conference on May 11, 2026, in Ottawa.
GeoIgnite is Canada’s national geospatial leadership conference, bringing together leaders and practitioners from government, industry, academia and Indigenous organizations to explore the technologies, policies and collaborations shaping Canada’s geospatial future. The 2026 program emphasizes the role of geospatial information in national decision making, including infrastructure planning, climate resilience, public safety and digital sovereignty.
“Esri Canada is pleased to support GeoIgnite and the Canadian Geospatial Forum. Elevating the GIS profession and ensuring the geospatial community’s contributions are understood and valued will require sustained cross-sector dialogue and collaboration. By aligning on shared priorities such as standards, interoperability and workforce development, we can strengthen Canada’s geospatial capacity and reinforce the critical role of location intelligence in building a resilient and prosperous Canada.”
— Alex Miller, President, Esri Canada
As part of its participation, Esri Canada will support the Canadian Geospatial Forum, a full day, non-commercial program designed to foster national dialogue across the sector. The forum will bring together participants from federal, provincial and municipal governments, private industry, academia, Indigenous organizations and the broader geomatics community to discuss issues affecting Canada’s geospatial ecosystem, including workforce visibility, standards, procurement realities, interoperability and Canada’s long-term geospatial needs.
A central component of the program will be the Canadian Geospatial and Geomatics Advisory Forum, a participatory session exploring workforce development and the representation of geospatial professions within Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) framework. The discussion will be co-facilitated by Monica Lloyd, academic chair, School of Technology & Environment at Nova Scotia Community College’s Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) and Frédéric Blouin-Michaud, program manager, GIS Community Development from Esri Canada and will be informed by a community-wide survey conducted in advance of the event.
“GeoIgnite was created to provide a national platform for meaningful discussion about the future of Canada’s geospatial sector. Canada’s geospatial community plays an increasingly important role in supporting infrastructure development, environmental management and national decision making. Thanks to the support of partners like Esri Canada, GeoIgnite brings together leaders across sectors to help shape how these capabilities evolve.”
— Jonathan Murphy, CEO, GoGeomatics Canada
More information about GeoIgnite is available at geoignite.ca
About GeoIgnite 2026
Hosted by GoGeomatics Canada, GeoIgnite is Canada’s national geospatial leadership conference, convening leaders from government, industry, academia and Indigenous organizations to discuss the future of geomatics and geospatial technology in Canada. GeoIgnite 2026 takes place May 11 to 13 in Ottawa and will include keynote presentations, technical programs, workshops and networking events focused on the evolving role of geospatial technology in Canada’s economy and public sector.
About Esri Canada
Founded in 1984, Esri Canada provides geographic information system (GIS) solutions that empower people in business, government, and education to make informed and timely decisions by leveraging the power of mapping and spatial analytics. The company serves more than 14,000 organizations from 14 offices across Canada and is based in Toronto. More information can be found at esri.ca.
Media Contacts
| Jonathan Murphy CEO, GoGeomatics Canada Contact via GoGeomatics |
Joy Chan PR & Corporate Communications Manager, Esri Canada [email protected] |
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