OGC Canada Forum: Canada’s Geospatial Strategy – Online

The OGC Canada Forum is pleased to invite you to participate in an online engagement session on Thursday, September 24, from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm EDT. The session will focus on the role of geospatial partners and stakeholders in implementing the Collaborative Geospatial Strategy for Canada, currently being developed by the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG) in collaboration with the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) and the OGC Canada Forum.

Building on the geospatial strategy panel discussion held during the last OGC Canada Forum on May 12 at GeoIgnite, this session will:

• Provide an overview of the draft strategy.
• Engage participants in breakout discussions on the strategy’s four strategic missions.
• Identify concrete action items that members and organizations of the geospatial community — including the OGC Canada Forum — can take to support implementation.

Insights gathered from this session will be considered by CCOG in finalizing the strategy.

For additional details and links to background materials, please see the description below. To indicate your interest and receive the meeting link, please complete the registration form.

Implementing a Collaborative Geospatial Strategy for Canada 

The Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO), in collaboration with the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG), is developing a Collaborative Geospatial Strategy to modernize and evolve the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure. The strategy is being informed by results of a stock take of Canada’s SDI conducted between June-November 2024, as well as a series of round tables held between February and April 2025 with participation from industry, academia, Indigenous organizations, NGOs, and governments. CCMEO and CCOG are targeting November 2025 for completion of the strategy.

This interactive session will provide OGC Canada Forum participants with a preview of the draft strategy and the opportunity to engage in breakout discussions on each of the four draft strategic missions¹. Participants will be invited to share their ideas for concrete initiatives and actions that the OGC Canada Forum and its members could undertake to complement government efforts and advance the strategy. The session will conclude with a recap of key insights from the breakout groups and a discussion of next steps for the OGC Canada Forum to follow up on proposed actions and develop an action plan.

Format: total time 2 hours (120 minutes): 

• Welcome and introductions (5 minutes)
• Presentation of the draft strategy (20 minutes)
• Break out room instructions (5 minutes)
• Break out room rotations (60 minutes)
• Break out group reports (20 minutes)
• Discussion of next steps (10 minutes)

Draft Strategic Missions:  

1. Improve geospatial data availability (free, open, interoperable) and access to enable and maximize science, innovation, and One Canadian economy
2. Drive greater use of geospatial data and applications across economic sectors and society for insights into issues that matter to Canadians
3. Safeguard, streamline, and continuously improve Canada’s geospatial environment (SDI) to continue providing essential and coordinated geospatial data and services, generating efficiencies
4. Build confidence in a future geospatial ecosystem by enhancing awareness and building capacity and skills to meet evolving complex needs