Shaping Canada’s Geospatial Future: Join the National Dialogue on Spatial Data Infrastructure

The Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) and the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG) are inviting participation in online engagement activities and events aimed at shaping the future of Canada’s geospatial ecosystem. These opportunities will gather diverse perspectives from across the geospatial community to explore current challenges, opportunities, and innovations that will influence the evolution of Canada’s Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI).

Why Your Input Matters

Canada’s geospatial landscape is rapidly evolving due to increasing data complexity, technological advancements, and shifting societal and environmental needs. The Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), in partnership with the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG), is leading efforts to assess the current state of geospatial information management in Canada and lay the foundation for the future.

In Phase 1, they conducted a stock take of Canada’s Spatial Data Infrastructure: the collection of geospatial data, and the standards, policies, applications, and governance that facilitate its access, use, integration, and preservation by engaging federal departments and provincial-territorial governments. The purpose of this phase was to gain insights into the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps within Canada’s geospatial ecosystem, including governance, policy, funding, data management, standards, innovation, partnerships, capacity, and communications.

Now, in Phase 2, they are engaging with industry leaders, Indigenous organizations, academia, non-governmental organizations, municipal governments, and other partners and stakeholders to:

Understand how geospatial innovation and adoption are evolving across different sectors
Identify priority areas for future geospatial policies, strategies, and investments
Ensure Canada’s geospatial ecosystem remains aligned with global best practices

How to Get Involved

Visit the online engagement platform: Visit the online engagement platform, “Let’s Talk Collaborative Geospatial Strategy”, to access results of the federal-provincial-territorial stock take exercise, to complete a questionnaire, to share your experiences with accessing and using geospatial data, and to join a discussion forum with targeted questions on the future of spatial data infrastructure in Canada.
Participate in virtual round table discussions: CCMEO and the CCOG are co-hosting a series of virtual round tables to facilitate in-depth discussions on key thematic areas on the future of spatial data infrastructure. Sessions will be available in English and French, with a maximum of 30 participants per session to allow for meaningful dialogue.These round tables are open to individuals and organizations engaged in Canada’s geospatial sector, including:

Industry and private sector
Academia and researchers
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
Indigenous governments, organizations and representatives
Municipal and local governments
Interested Canadians

Round Table Schedule:

Governance (including geospatial governance and institutions, legal and policy framework, and financial aspects of SDI)
1. English: February 25, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)
2. French: February 27, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)

Technology (including innovation, data, and standards)

1. English: March 19, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)
2. French: March 13, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)

People (including partnerships, capacity and education, and communications and engagement)

1. English: March 10, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)
2. French: March 11, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)

Public Safety (including disasters, climate resilience, emergency management, and security/defence)

1. English: March 6, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)
2. French: March 12, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)

Indigenous perspectives on spatial data infrastructure governance, technology/data, people
1. English: March 17, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)
2. French: March 20, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)

Infrastructure (including housing, transportation, planning and development)

1. English: March 21, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)
2. French: March 14, 2025 (1:00–2:30 PM EST)

Registration and Participation Details:

To be considered for participation in the round tables, register here: https://forms-formulaires.alpha.canada.ca/en/id/cm6avr5ed0052vt68jq6az4ud

Select up to three round tables based on your areas of expertise and interest
If you are unable to attend, you can still provide input via NRCan’s online engagement platform: https://www.letstalknaturalresources.ca/geospatial-data-strategy
Feel free to share this invitation with colleagues who may be interested in participating in the round tables and/or contributing via the online engagement platform

Why Participate?

Your insights and expertise will inform planning for Canada’s geospatial future, so that our national spatial data infrastructure will better align with national priorities and the evolving needs of geospatial producers and users for the benefit of all Canadians. Your input will contribute to a stronger, more collaborative geospatial ecosystem that supports better decision-making for economic growth, public safety, community resilience, environmental sustainability, and digital transformation.

For questions, please email: ccog-cocg@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.