I am sharing an email GoGeomatics received from the delicate flowers at GeoAlliance Canada.  We got it a few hours after GoGeomatics published a cartoon on February 22nd.   I will leave it to the community to decide if this email is an overreaction on the part of GeoAlliance, or the thoughtful and measured response of a new organization hoping to lead the Canadian geospatial community (spoiler – we think it’s the former).  I’m not going to riff at length about freedom of speech and such matters. In Canada we are blessed to live in a country where free speech and freedom of expression are protected. I’m pretty sure satirical cartoons are covered.

The email below is verbatim, (not edited at all except to remove phone numbers and email addresses) and quite entertaining. It seems the first action taken by the GeoAlliance will be to sue another member of the Canadian geospatial community (excellent use of those tax payer dollars they are bankrolled with!) because they feel we are being mean to them (poor dears).  I  like how the email is both a threat and an invitation.  As well, Prashant Shuckle, Director General of the Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) gets thrown into the mix for some reason. Can’t imagine Prashant’s appreciating that too much now.

I have included the cartoon below for you to see (it speaks for itself like any good satirical cartoon should), then go ahead and read the email.  I along the volunteers, staff, and 6,000 participants of GoGeomatics Canada await with baited breath for the crack team of lawyers GeoAlliance has hired to contact us and threaten us some more. SCARY!

(Final note – We are still getting supportive emails on the cartoon and even from members of the GeoAlliance!)

The Entire and Unedited Email Begins Below:

From: Brad Ashley, Chair, GeoAlliance Canada
To: Jonathan Murphy, Managing Director, GoGeomatics Canada
CC: Prashant Shukle, Director General, Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO)

Jon,

I have been sent the cartoon attached.  It appears that this cartoon depicts GeoAlliance Canada stealing money from Natural Resources Canada.

I want to make it very clear that GeoAlliance Canada, and its volunteers, have had to work incredibly hard to be granted a grants and contribution agreement.  It wasn’t stealing from others and it doesn’t preclude other organizations from receiving funding.  I would ask that you please refrain from engaging in defamation of our organization through the use of images or words. This image, as well as past comments, has been sent to our lawyers for review, to see if this could be used in a defamation lawsuit.

GeoAlliance Canada has not exercised any negativity towards GoGeomatics and has left these images and editorials alone for some time.  It was our hope that you had gotten over whatever seemed to be the issue and that we would move along without negative editorials. If you want to have a clearer understanding of GeoAlliance Canada I ask that you consider getting involved and becoming a member before making comments on our organization.

I would recommend that if you have any further questions on GeoAlliance Canada, and its legitimacy, that you speak directly to Prashant Shukle who will be more than able to answer questions on the topic.

Brad Ashley
Chair

GeoAlliance Canada
200, 6 Crowfoot Circle N.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3G 2T3