About the GIScience Study Group
The GIScience Study Group, also known as GIS-SIG, brings together CAG members with interests in GIScience, GIS applications, geomatics, spatial data, and related technologies in Canada.
The group fosters collaboration, supports student training and academic excellence, and provides opportunities for student members through travel grants, awards, mentorship, and community activities.
Welcome to GIS
Welcome to the GIScience Study Group of the Canadian Association of Geographers. GIS-SIG supports CAG members whose work, research, teaching, or professional interests connect with GIScience and related spatial technologies.
The group aims to build a collaborative community for members interested in GIS, geomatics, spatial analysis, geospatial education, and the role of spatial data in geographic research and practice.
Goals
The GIScience Study Group supports work and conversation around:
- GIScience and GIS applications research
- Model curricula and educational tools with Canadian content
- Spatial data access, including free or at-cost distribution
- Innovative techniques for collecting and sharing spatial data
- Education in GIS, geomatics, and related technologies
- Interdisciplinary collaboration between geographers and others working with GIS
Student Support
GIS-SIG provides support for student members through awards, travel grants, mentorship opportunities, and conference-related activities. The group encourages student participation and connection within the wider CAG community.
GIScience Awards
The GIScience Study Group recognizes and supports student members through awards and travel grants. These awards help encourage student participation in CAG activities and support emerging scholars working in GIScience, geomatics, spatial technologies, and related areas of geographic research.
Award Recipients
2025
- Florent Amat
- Mohsen Ansari
- Lewis Blagogie
- Cameron Brubacher
- Kyle Dery
- Stella Harden
- Jayda Hylton-Pelaia
- Fahime Karami
- Nadia Keshmiri
- Bright Kwakye
- Nkosinothando Mhlanga
- Ebenezer Narh
- Gaspard Octeus
- Tejumade Ojo
- Reforce Okwei
- Shweta Parajuli
- Greeshma Prakash Sherly
- Saeideh Sahebivayghan
- Emory Shaw
- Elyia Willyono
- Ben Woodward
- Yihang Zhang
2024
- Silas Asante
- Urbanus Azupogo
- Amanda Bishop
- Cameron Brubacher
- Simone Cominelli
- Hawjin Falahatkar
- Raphaelle Frechon
- Miranda Frison
- Jayda Hylton-Peleia
- Barbara Kerr
- Nadia Keshmiri
- Philip Lynch
- Ebenezer Narh
- Reforce Okwei
- Saeideh Sahebivayghan
- Paul Walter
- Ben Woodward
- Yihang Zhang
2023
- Florent Amat
- Amanda Bishop
- Elle Buckvold
- Alysha van Duynhoven
- Haoxuan Ge
- Alyshan Mammadzda
- Ebenezer Narh
- Riley Scanlan
News & Updates
Stay up to date with GIS-SIG announcements, student opportunities, conference activities, mentorship initiatives, and events related to GIScience and geospatial research.
Archived News: GIS Days 2025
On behalf of GIS Student Executive, Ben Woodward
I wanted to make you all aware of two student-focused GIS conferences that are quickly approaching.
The first is Esri Canada’s GIS in Education and Research Conference (https://hed.esri.ca/gisconference/), which will be taking place on October 16th at the University in Toronto. While the call for papers for this conference has closed, individuals may still register to attend this in-person conference (https://events.esri.ca/CF-25OCT16-TORONTO-GISinEducationResearch). Additionally, and new this year, the Education and Research Conference is accepting submissions for a Map Gallery. Accepted submission formats include paper maps, posters, Dashboards, and Story Maps. Submissions must be made to this form (https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/4f4c5aa7bb8b4acf844203672ff98252) by no later than October 6th. A full list of guidelines is attached here, and you do not need to be attending the conference to make a Map Gallery submission.
The second is Western University’s GIS Days event (https://gisdays-westernu.hub.arcgis.com/), which will be taking place mostly online from November 17th to November 19th. Western GIS Days is currently accepting Lightning Talks, Demonstrations, Tutorials, and Map Gallery submissions. Individuals from all universities or organizations are welcome to submit a presentation for the online portion of the event here (https://gisdays-westernu.hub.arcgis.com/feedback/surveys/e8a7763664aa4141bc07abe048a1f9bc/explore) by no later than October 10th.
Additionally, in person GIS day events with opportunities to present will be taking place at Brock University, the University of Manitoba, Western University, the University of Waterloo, and likely other universities. As members of the Canadian GIS community, we encourage you to attend and support these events!
If you have an GIS day event to add, please email us at Ben Woodward
bwoodward@uwaterloo.ca and Victoria Fast victoria.fast@ucalgary.ca so we can share with our members and update the list on our website.
Leadership & Contact Information
To learn more about the GIScience Study Group, please contact the current group leadership.
Executives:
Chair – Victoria Fast
Vice Chair – Liliana Perez
Treasurer – Grant McKenzie
Student Councillor – Sophia Jewell
Student Councillor – Jaymie Fletcher
Student Councillor – Sam Mason
General Contact
RECENT INITIATIVE
Call for Geospatial Fellows and Mentors
The CAG GIS Study Group is inviting applications for up to five (5) Geospatial Fellows and recruiting 10+ Mentors for a half-day, in-person mentorship workshop and roundtable clinic at CAG 2026 (University of Victoria) on June 1, 2026 (afternoon).
- Geospatial Fellows (senior honours UG, MSc/PhD, postdoc, early career) will present a project-in-progress and receive structured feedback from Mentors and peers. Fellows receive a $400 presenter honorarium (issued after participation).
- Deadline to apply as a Fellow: Friday, March 6, 2026 (11:59 PM Pacific)
- Mentors (faculty, senior researchers, practitioners, and advanced PhDs/postdocs with strong methods expertise) are invited to join facilitated discussions and/or host a themed clinic roundtable.
- Deadline to register as a Mentor: Friday, May 1, 2026 (11:59 PM Pacific)
