Professional Geomatics Associations typically help further a particular profession, the interests of individuals engaged in that profession and help bridge public interest. They are great ways for professionals to network and discuss GIS topics with others in the same industry.
For several years we had a long list of Professional Geomatics Associations in Canada published on this page to help people learn more about the various groups and organizations that are available to the geospatial community, which ones they should become part of (especially since some cost money and most can not afford to join them all).
Then over time, this new section of the web site grew to cover in detail some of the organizations that we either are member of, or know a little about, as well as details shared by our readers.
Recently, we added all this information to the Canadian Geospatial Directory to help make the information easier to manage and update. The content on this page is now loaded randomly through a script and displayed below.
The lists includes random listings from the Canadian Geospatial Directory, for more details on a particular organization, click the view button. You can also sort the listings by City, Province, Postal Code using the quick select sorting links.
If you see any that we have missed or then please let us know.
[originally published July 2010]
Note: The lists below includes random listings from the Canadian Geospatial Directory, for more details on a particular organization, click the view button. You can also sort the listings by City, Province, Postal Code using the quick select sorting links. Click here to view all the Professional Geomatics Association and Group entries
The Vancouver GIS Users Group is a group of GIS professionals using geographic information systems for spatial data management, analysis, and visualization.
The Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors is a self-governing body, established to maintain standards of professional ethics, knowledge and skill among its members; and to regulate the practice of professional land surveying in order to protect the public.
Professional Surveyors Canada is dedicated to building and enabling a strong multi-faceted community of surveying professionals committed to excellence.
The Manitoba GIS User Group (MGUG) is a group of geomatics professionals and interested individuals using or supporting the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial data management, analysis, and visualization.
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A community group that promotes open data initiatives to help ensure that data can evolve in a sustainable way towards a future that is open and transparent. Contains lots of great information and resources, especially when you are looking for some of those harder to find data sets …
The GeoGeeks Fraser Valley Group is on the outskirts of most of the existing mapping organizations and we want to build our own community.
The Association of New Brunswick Land Surveyors has the mandate of regulating and governing the profession of Land Surveying in NB. It was formed in 1954 through an Act of the provincial legislature, which was amended in 1986. (An Act to Incorporate the Association of New Brunswick Land Surveyors)
The principal object of the Association is to regulate the practice of professional land surveying and to govern its members and holders of certificates of authorization in accordance with this Act, the regulations and the by-laws in order that the public interest may be served and protected.
The Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors (ABCLS) is a self-governing professional association legislated under the Land Surveyors Act. The Association regulates the practice of land surveying for the protection of the public and administration of the profession.
URISA – Urban and Regional Information Systems Association http://www.urisa.org
NACIS – North American Cartographic Information Society http://nacis.org
GITA – Geospatial Information & Technology Association https://www.gita.org
ASPRS – American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing http://www.asprs.org
Cartography and Geographic Information Society (CaGIS) – http://www.cartogis.org/ mostly American based
SCGIS – Society for Conservation GIS http://www.scgis.org/ mostly US based
The majority of the information on our site is provided by the geospatial community. Therefore, if you know of any Professional Geomatics Association or Groups in Canada that are not included on the list, and should be added (or see any details that should be corrected) then feel please let us know.
Atlas of Mi’kmaw Place Names 
Bottom line: There are too many associations and this leaves networking, professional development and working with others more limited and more expensive than it should be. The financial difficulties in the recent past in the CIG, GIAC and likely others tells us that the existing model doesn’t work. It used to be that the rest of the world followed Canada. Perhaps we should today look at other models used elsewhere. One idea I would support is to have an umbrella group that would bring them all together. Another benefit is that we would be in a position to keep the money from conferences in Canada – not go to the USA as some seem to do.
Hello,
I think you should definitely consider adding the North American Cartographic Information Society to your list.
NACIS.org.
Thanks!
Thanks, for your suggestion, have added NACIS to the list.
I recently blogged my opinion of professional associations for geomatics. In this age of social media it is hard to justify paying membership fees – http://geobern.blogspot.ca/2012/12/wither-our-professional-organizations.html