Geographical Thinking from Esri Canada

Grab your toque and prepare for an icy voyage to the ends of the Earth! In this episode of Geographical Thinking, host Michelle Brake speaks to Anais Schaenzel, who recently embarked on a thrilling expedition to Antarctica and documented it all with GIS.

Grab your gardening gloves as we dig into the world of ecological restoration. In this episode of Geographical Thinking, we’ll explore innovative strategies for creating a greener, more resilient world with the insightful Heather Schibli, from Dougan & Associates.

Imagine a landscape where lichens are not just tiny patches on rocks and branches, but vibrant characters in a complex ecological story. In this episode of Geographical Thinking, we’ll talk with Miranda Frison, a master's student looking to uncover the hidden intricacies of lichen communities.

How are Alex Trebek, K-12 education, and GIS all connected? This episode of Geographical Thinking connects the dots as Michelle Brake talks with Jean Tong and Angela Alexander, two of the people who keep Esri Canada’s K-12 education program thriving.

40 thousand children go missing in Canada every year. Missing Children Society of Canada is leveraging the latest location-based technology to ensure more children are found faster.

Turning data into actionable insights is the superpower that most organizations dream of having. Jan Kestle founded Environics Analytics twenty years ago and is a seasoned expert in statistics and data analytics. In this conversation with Esri Canada’s Guan Yue, Jan demonstrates the importance of data-driven decision making with a keen focus on location intelligence.

In this episode of Geographical Thinking, Matthew Lewin, director of strategic advisory at Esri Canada, interviews TD’s associate VP of geospatial data and retail analytics, Annie Latremouille. TD’s geospatial program is on the rise, with GIS technology helping to strengthen the customer experience and drive better business outcomes. Their success comes from positioning the group as a Canadian centre of excellence for GIS, putting the right tools in the hands of colleagues who aren’t GIS users and—most importantly of all—constantly proving the business value, relevance and impact of GIS.

In very little time with very little money, Georgina Fire and Rescue Services transformed their community risk assessment process. How did they do it? Esri’s Guan Yue speaks with Georgina Fire and Rescue Services Deputy Fire Chief Lorianne Zwicker who explains how real-time data collection and $58 saves lives.

Did you know noise is the #2 Urban Environmental Health Hazard affecting our sleep, our bodies and our minds? Making a ruckus about excessive noise in the big city before noise by-laws are reviewed, Ingrid Buday, founder of No More Noise Toronto, tells Guan Yue how she’s taken matters into her own hands.

Southlake Regional Health Centre’s hyper-local interventions, tailored and targeted to the Northern York Region of Ontario, are gained through geoanalytics. Our guest speaker is Gayle Seddon, Director of the Southlake Community Ontario Health Team. Gayle joined Southlake Regional Health Centre as the Executive Innovator.

CBRE is the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm. They have a team of GIS professionals who understand the potential of location intelligence and built their proprietary web-based platform – Dimension. In this episode of Geographical Thinking, Guan Yue speaks with Naz Ali, the Senior GIS Manager for CBRE Limited, about the evolution of GIS at CBRE and what the future may entail.

The Canadian Urban Institute’s new report examines the hurdles to converting empty downtown buildings in eight Canadian cities. CUI’s executive director Mary Rowe explains.

As Guan prepares for a new season of Geographical Thinking, we're pleased to share a conversation with Esri Canada’s Genevieve George about GeoAI. This content originally aired as part of Spatial Report Podcast's Episode 3: An Eye for A.I. Maggie Samson and Mark Ho host. Artificial intelligence is changing the way we approach geospatial analysis, and GeoAI is at the forefront of this transformation. In this episode, Maggie and Mark are joined by a product expert who will explore what GeoAI is and empower you to give it a go. From advanced image classification to predictive modeling, learn how ArcGIS and GeoAI is revolutionizing geospatial analysis in the age of AI.

Put on your hiking shoes and pack your picnic basket. The funcast podcast is back, and this time we’re taking a leisurely stroll through your favourite parks. Esri Canada instructors André Piasta and Nigel Pereira trade their laptops for frisbees as they battle for trivia geo-glory. From Stanley Park to Gros Morne, join us on an awe-inspiring journey that traverses the most captivating landscapes our planet has to offer. Don’t forget the sunscreen!

James Hardcastle, Associate Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), discusses the significance of the global initiative to protect 30% of the Earth by 2030, otherwise known as 30X30.

GIS has entered the boardroom of investment firms and is now seen as a game-changer with regards to better understanding climate change and the long-term prospects of corporations. Alex Martonik, Business Resilience, Financial Services, and Insurance Lead for Esri, talks about why climate resilience matters to businesses.

Marta Segura, Chief Heat Officer & Climate Emergency Mobilization Director for the city of Los Angeles, talks about using mapping and location technology to help bring relief to residents during heatwaves.

An online app showing the locations of Naloxone kits in Newfoundland and Labrador became popular on social media in early 2023. Guan Yue spoke with Mark Squires, the creator of the app, about his role as a GIS analyst in Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services, as well as other projects that bridge data and health needs.

Did you know the vital role GIS professionals play in the Canadian Armed Forces? In this episode of Geographical Thinking, Guan Yue speaks with Lieutenant Colonel Denise Sweet about the many projects in Canada's Armed Forces using location data and GIS. Learn more at Esri.ca.

Defining Moments Canada is a Canadian heritage organization dedicated to commemorating significant moments in our shared histories. In their efforts to engage young Canadians with their history, Defining Moments Canada has embraced diverse media, ArcGIS Storymaps being one of them. Joining Guan Yue to discuss this initiative is Louis Lebel, Digital Content Manager at Defining Moments Canada.