Dr. Barry Wellar Professor Emeritus of Geography, and Distinguished Geomatics Scientist, Lab for Applied Geomatics and GIS Science, University of Ottawa, Program Director, Geography Awareness Week, Canadian Association of Geographers PowerPoint Slides for the Keynote Address GIS Day 2008 University of Ottawa November 19, 2008

N EW F RONTIERS IN C ANADIAN G EOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008 November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 In 2007 the Canadian Association of Geographers (CAG) tested the idea of using “Theme Days” during Geography Awareness Week (GAW) to demonstrate the importance of geography to all Canadians. The experiment was so successful that it received international attention, and is being expanded for GAW To read about the exciting new program for GAW 2008, visit the CAG website at cag- acg.ca/en/geography_week.html.

First, we are continuing to explore new ways to learn more about the importance of geography to the Theme Day topics – Weather and Climate; Water; Energy; Transportation; and, Food and Health. At the click of your mouse, you are linked to the ten Canadian websites that have been selected for each theme because of how well they make the connection between geography and a theme topic. N EW F RONTIERS IN C ANADIAN G EOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008 November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Second, there is an increasing need for all Canadians to learn more about the importance of geography to the work of governments, businesses, and other enterprises across Canada. A number of Canadian organizations are participating in the Applied Geography Showcase which has been created for GAW A click of your mouse links you to websites that are excellent sources of information about the kinds of work, jobs, and careers that await students trained in applied geography. N EW F RONTIERS IN C ANADIAN G EOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008 November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Third, the field of geography is rapidly changing, and universities, colleges, governments, businesses, and other organizations are introducing many new ways of thinking about and doing geography. The GeoSkills Showcase provides links to websites that contain the latest information about education and training programs in geography, and the exciting and rewarding futures that await students trained in geographic skills. A click of the mouse takes you to these websites. N EW F RONTIERS IN C ANADIAN G EOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008 November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

N EW F RONTIERS IN C ANADIAN G EOGRAPHY Geography Awareness Week 2008 November 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

T HEME D AYS WEATHER AND CLIMATE DAY WEBSITES Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair, Geography Awareness Week 2008 Canadian Association of Geographers Weather and Climate November 17

WATER DAY WEBSITES Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair, Geography Awareness Week 2008 Canadian Association of Geographers Water November 18 T HEME D AYS

ENERGY DAY WEBSITES Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair, Geography Awareness Week 2008 Canadian Association of Geographers Energy November 19 T HEME D AYS

TRANSPORTATION DAY WEBSITES Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair, Geography Awareness Week 2008 Canadian Association of Geographers Transportation November 20 T HEME D AYS

FOOD AND HEALTH DAY WEBSITES Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair, Geography Awareness Week 2008 Canadian Association of Geographers Food and Health November 21 T HEME D AYS

Background to the Applied Geography Showcase There is an increasing need to better inform Canadians about the importance of applied geography to the missions and operations of governments, businesses, and other organizations across Canada. In recognition of this need, Applied Geography Showcase has been created as a means to inform Canadians (and the Internet world) about the kinds of applied geography projects and activities that are being undertaken in universities and colleges, governments at all levels, businesses in all sectors of the economy, as well as by advocacy groups, the media, and other organizations.

Background to the GeoSkills Showcase The websites selected for Theme Days in 2007 illustrate some of the many ways of thinking about and doing geography, and the websites selected for Theme Days 2008 add more ways, as do the websites selected for the Applied Geography Showcase. Clearly, the skills involved in geographic teaching, research, and applications are numerous, diverse, and rapidly changing as universities, colleges, schools, governments, businesses, and other organizations introduce new and different methods, techniques, technologies, and practices to support and promote thinking about and doing geography.

Guidelines 1: Types of GeoSkills Many kinds of skills are used in teaching, studying, thinking about, and doing geography, and entire textbooks are dedicated to writing about these skills. However, this is the inaugural year of a showcase, and it appears advisable to ‘keep things simple’. As a result, for year one of the GeoSkills Showcase we suggest that it would be very helpful to visitors if participating websites would organize their geographic skills and materials under such well‐established headings as:

Guidelines 1: Types of GeoSkills Cartography Geographic field methods Geographic research methods Geographic research techniques Geomatics Geostatisitics GIS applications GIS fundamentals GIS principles GIS science GIS technology Remote sensing Spatial analysis As indicated by the terms used, the focus is on geographic skills, and that is the overriding criterion for website participation in the GeoSkills Showcase.

Guidelines 3: Inclusiveness The GeoSkills Showcase is an ideal venue for organizations to demonstrate how they combine geographic text, geographic numerics, and geographic graphics in their processes or products. And, it is an ideal venue for providing a range of materials that are informative and instructive to beginners and newcomers to the field, as well as to people with advanced training and experience as designers, instructors, and users of these skills.

Acknowledgements I wish to begin by thanking the Coordinators of the Theme Days, Geography Awareness Week 2008, for their assistance. Weather and Climate Day, Nov. 17, Sam Herold, University of Ottawa Water Day, Nov. 18, Bob Patrick, University of Saskatchewan Energy Day, Nov. 19, Shannon Christie, University of Saskatchewan Transportation Day, Nov. 20, Barry Wellar: Wellar Consulting Inc. Food and Health Day, Nov. 21, Nairne Cameron, Algoma University I also wish to acknowledge the support given to Geography Awareness Week by the Executive Committee of the Canadian Association of Geographers, and in particular by the Executive Secretary, Valerie Shoffey. Finally, the excellent technical support provided by Sam Herold, a Masters candidate in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Ottawa is gratefully acknowledged. Dr. Barry Wellar, Program Chair, Geography Awareness Week Canadian Association of Geographers