Canada’s National Geomatics Awards 2025

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Earlier this year, we invited Canada’s geomatics and geospatial community to nominate the individuals and organizations making a real difference in our sector.

Based on your nominations, we’ve finalized five award categories that reflect the diversity and impact of work happening across our sector. For each award, we’ve selected top nominees based on your submissions—and now we’re asking for your voice again to help choose the winners.

Now it’s time to make the final call. Cast your vote and help us choose the trailblazers.

Public Sector Leadership Award

Public sector organizations and leaders whose geospatial initiatives are advancing national priorities, improving services, and strengthening Canada’s capacity for resilience and innovation.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan): Advancing Canada’s geospatial foundations by enhancing the Canadian Spatial Reference System, modernizing the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure through GeoConnections, and expanding GEO.ca. NRCan also strengthens wildfire and climate resilience with updated burned area mapping and geospatial tools for emergency response.

Department of National Defence (DND) BIM & GIS dept: Leading digital transformation by integrating BIM and GIS into defence infrastructure strategy, advancing open standards through buildingSMART Canada, and embedding geospatial intelligence into planning, operations, and resilience across the department.

Public Safety Canada: Advancing Canada’s emergency management system with enhancements to the Canadian Disaster Database and disaster recovery programs. Public Safety Canada is also laying the groundwork for Next Generation 9-1-1, ensuring public safety agencies will have access to accurate, standardized GIS data when the system comes online.

Canadian Space Agency (CSA): Delivering critical Earth Observation data that supports Canada’s climate, environmental, and security agendas. In 2025, the CSA also began emphasizing sovereign capacity and international partnerships, aligning with Canada’s shift toward self-sustainability and global collaboration in space and geospatial innovation.

City of Ottawa – Digital Twin & AI: Implementing a high-fidelity digital twin using LiDAR, photogrammetry, drones, and 360° imagery to enhance infrastructure planning, improve traffic modeling, and modernize zoning by-law processes with data-driven precision.

Private Sector Geospatial Company of the Year Award

Canadian private sector leaders whose innovation, expertise, and leadership in geomatics are making a lasting impact on industry, infrastructure, and communities.

Eagle Engineering and Consulting – Dan McCarthy: Advancing reality capture and digital twin solutions in Canada’s telecom sector, improving asset management, efficiency, and decision-making for complex infrastructure projects.

SparkGeo – Will Cadell: Leading in cloud-native geospatial applications, SparkGeo delivers scalable mapping solutions that help organizations worldwide harness geospatial analytics for strategic advantage.

GeoVerra – Mitch Ettinger: Providing land surveying, mapping, and geomatics services nationwide, GeoVerra supports infrastructure, resource development, and community growth as one of Canada’s largest geomatics firms.

The Firelight Group – Steve DeRoy: An Indigenous-led consultancy advancing community-driven mapping and GIS. Firelight combines drones, LiDAR, and spatial analysis with Indigenous knowledge systems to support land-use planning, stewardship, and data governance.

EarthDaily – Don Osborne: Driving innovation in satellite-based Earth observation, EarthDaily has begun deploying its new constellation -- one of the most advanced EO systems globally -- to deliver daily, high-quality imagery for agriculture, climate resilience, and environmental intelligence.

Innovation & Practical Impact Award

Organizations whose geospatial innovations have delivered clear, practical benefits—advancing how data and technology are applied to improve infrastructure, resilience, and decision-making in Canada.

WSP: Applying geospatial innovation across infrastructure, climate, and urban planning, WSP is helping communities plan and adapt through digital twins, advanced GIS platforms like PRIME for Cities, and resilience-focused analytics.

McElhanney: Pioneering reality capture and immersive geospatial visualization, McElhanney uses LiDAR, drones, and AR/VR to deliver actionable insights for infrastructure and land development. Its innovations improve project accuracy, reduce costs, and set new benchmarks for client-focused geomatics services.

AtkinsRéalis: Transforming infrastructure delivery through the integration of BIM, GIS, and AR into project workflows. From restoring heritage assets to managing large-scale builds, AtkinsRéalis is demonstrating how digital innovation improves efficiency, sustainability, and long-term asset performance.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF): Supporting sustainable land and resource management with open geospatial data, MNRF provides imagery, elevation, and land information through the Ontario GeoHub, enabling better planning, development, and stewardship across the province.

City of Calgary – Flood Mapping & Smart City: Through advanced flood hazard mapping and investments like the Springbank Off-Stream Reservoir, Calgary has reduced flood risk zones and strengthened resilience. At the same time, its smart city initiatives are applying geospatial tools to improve planning, infrastructure management, and community services.

Clear selection

Community Leadership Award

Organizations that strengthen Canada’s geomatics community through mentorship, collaboration, and outreach, helping to build a more connected and inclusive sector.

Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG): Advancing education and applied research in Nova Scotia, AGRG combines hands-on geomatics training with coastal LiDAR projects that prepare new professionals for careers in the field.

Esri Canada: Beyond technology, supporting education and professional development while sponsoring national events, Esri Canada plays a key role in community building. Through initiatives like Community Maps and StoryMaps, it also connects organizations and citizens in new ways.

Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (ABMI): Connecting scientists, governments, Indigenous communities, and industry, ABMI provides large-scale biodiversity monitoring and open geospatial data. Its collaborative approach strengthens the community’s ability to understand and manage Alberta’s environment.

OGC Canada Forum: Bringing together leaders from government, industry, and academia, the OGC Canada Forum promotes open standards and interoperability, showcased in its 2025 national forum at GeoIgnite.

GeoConnect Society: Formerly URISA BC, GeoConnect builds professional connections in British Columbia through initiatives like the 2025 GIS and the Digital Transformation conference, emphasizing collaboration, mentorship, and community growth.

Thought Leadership Award

Individuals whose ideas, research, and advocacy are shaping Canada’s geomatics vision and knowledge.

Dr. Jonathan Li: Professor at the University of Waterloo, Dr. Li is an internationally recognized researcher in LiDAR remote sensing, 3D mapping, and digital twin technologies. His work on geospatial data analytics for smart cities and infrastructure is complemented by his role as President of the Canadian Institute of Geomatics.

Dr. Mir Abolfazl Mostafavi: Professor at Université Laval and Canada Research Chair in Smart and Inclusive Cities, Dr. Mostafavi develops geospatial decision-support systems and digital twin approaches that improve urban sustainability, mobility, and accessibility.

Alex Hill-Stosky: An award-winning graduate of COGS and UNB, Alex Hill-Stosky has built a career in reality capture, extraction, and analytics through photogrammetric and LiDAR technologies. With a strong background in hydrography and land surveying, he applies these skills to advance innovation in geomatics practice.

Dr. Ursula Eicker: Canada Excellence Research Chair at Concordia University, Dr. Eicker leads cross-disciplinary research on low-carbon cities, energy systems, and sustainable urban design. Her work integrates geospatial modeling, digital twins, and community-scale data to support climate action and resilient city planning.

Dr. Tracey P. Lauriault: Associate Professor at Carleton University, Dr. Lauriault is a leading scholar in data governance, open data, and digital infrastructure. Her research on data sovereignty and smart cities has influenced national and international approaches to managing geospatial data for the public good.

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