Lock in your fall with Esri Canada small group training

June 16, 2026

Dani Pacey

Summer might be on its way, but it’ll be fall before you know it. Get your fall locked in now—and your training budget set—with small group training delivered by Esri Canada’s certified ArcGIS instructors. In this blog post, get introduced to Esri Canada’s slate of expert instructors and find the right GIS training course to kick off your autumn.

Key takeaways

Esri Canada offers the best and most targeted Canadian small-group training in geographic information system (GIS) technology, specifically on the ArcGIS platform.
With the help of our expert certified ArcGIS instructors, hands-on activities and a focused small-group environment, Esri Canada will take your department’s geospatial skills to the next level.

It’s June, meaning that we’re halfway through 2026! Have you allocated your GIS team’s entire training budget yet?

Before you take off for a summer break or start enjoying summer Fridays, take some time to plan out any fall 2026 professional development for your team. And what better way to get your team up to speed with the latest GIS skills than by scheduling small group training delivered by Esri Canada?

What is small group GIS training?

Small group GIS training with Esri Canada allows you to book specialized training for groups of four learners or more, delivered on dates to be negotiated with our team and taught by our certified, experienced instructors.

Even if you choose to register on an individual course basis, all learners in our instructor-led courses still get the benefit of working with Esri Canada’s personable, expert instructors. Instructor-led training results in a higher rate of skill retention vs learning from recordings, gives you the ability to ask questions of someone who’s seen it all, and grants you access to hands-on, guided exercises (as well as top tips from the instructors’ experiences that aren’t included in the course materials).

But small group training is one of our most popular options for a reason: that way, your entire team learns the same topics and gets on the same page with the help of an expert guide. And by locking in training dates with Esri Canada’s national training team now, you’ll be better assured of getting dates that work for you and your group, as dates are first-come first-served and filling up fast.

You’ve talked a lot about these expert instructors. Who will be teaching our small group during GIS training by Esri Canada?

To help you make your decision, here’s a quick guide to Esri Canada’s highly qualified certified ArcGIS instructors, who each bring unique perspectives and experiences to their role.

Oli Helm, Senior Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Pacific Time

Oli Helm, a man with light skin, short curly hair and a black crew-neck shirt, smiles against a brick background.

Oli has an Advanced Diploma in GIS and has been training customers in Esri software and working on consulting projects for over 20 years. Having started with New Zealand’s Esri distributor, he then moved to Esri’s head office in Redlands, California and is now with Esri Canada. His degree in GIS and his work experience give him advanced knowledge in areas like Python scripting, cartography, spatial analysis, databases, 3D, imagery and LiDAR.

Oscar Andrade-Rios, Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Mountain Time

Oscar Andrade-Rios, a man with light skin, short dark curly hair and a navy collared shirt, smiles against a brick background.

Oscar has a B.Sc. in Geology and a B.A.Tech in Geographic Information Systems. He has experience as an instructor at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and as a GIS consultant specializing in environmental projects. Oscar has visited all continents and is always open for a conversation in English, Spanish or Portuguese.

Charlene Nielsen, Senior Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Mountain Time

Charlene Nielsen, a woman with light skin, a blonde bob and a white shirt, smiles against a brick background.

Charlene has an Interdisciplinary PhD in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences & Medical Sciences–Pediatrics as well as an M.Sc. in Geography with Specialization in GIS and Remote Sensing. With over 20 years experience of educating and researching using GIS, she now delivers courses on ArcGIS Pro and its extensions, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Knowledge, Python and change management.

André Piasta, Senior Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Central Time

André Piasta, a man with light skin, glasses, and a gray Esri Canada polo shirt, smiles against a brick background.

André teaches the full range of courses that Esri Canada offers, focusing on ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS developer tools. His love of mapping, geography and computer programming began in childhood, and his primary goal is to pass that love on to anyone who takes a course. André has degrees in computer science and geography from the University of Regina. He has over 20 years of experience working with GIS and has been with Esri Canada since 2007 as an analyst, consultant and instructor.

Nigel Pereira, Senior Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Eastern Time

Nigel Pereira, a man with brown skin, wavy salt-and-pepper hair and a blue checked collared shirt smiles against a brick background.

Nigel was introduced to GIS while studying archaeology. He has a Certificate in GIS from Fleming College and has worked as a consultant on municipal and environmental projects. Nigel delivers ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise courses. He has also facilitated ArcGIS courses throughout North America and has presented at the international Esri User Conference in San Diego.

Ray Caron, Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Eastern Time

Ray Caron, a man with light skin, short dark hair, and a gray sweater stands against a brick background.

Raymond has seven years of experience teaching GIS, geology and geophysics at the university level as well as a PhD in Earth Sciences with a specialization in Geophysics. Raymond has used ArcGIS for over a decade, with a focus on academic and industry projects in geology and geophysics. He loves coffee and teaches in both English and French.

Guillaume Arnoux Hébert, Senior Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Eastern Time

Guillaume Arnoux Hébert, a man with light skin, glasses, short dark hair and a dark graphic t-shirt, stands against a brick background.

Guillaume has a Master’s in GIS from the University of Montréal and has continued his affiliation with the University as a guest lecturer. Guillaume has delivered training on various subjects at BAnQ (Library and National Archives of Québec) and has worked as a consultant for territorial land claims with First Nations. He has delivered training in both official languages on topics that include ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Enterprise and Python scripting.

Chris Harlow, Certified ArcGIS Instructor – Atlantic Time

Chris Harlow, a man with light skin, glasses, short blonde hair and a red checked collared shirt, smiles against a brick background.

Chris has a Diploma in GIS from the Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS) and over a decade of GIS experience focusing on workflow design, automation and implementation. He delivers courses on ArcGIS Pro, Python, web apps and geodatabases.

Each of our instructors has a unique combination of expertise, capabilities and location that may make them a good fit to teach your course, but any one of them would be a great teacher for you or your small group. Explore the course listings to see what’s on!

Okay, I’m in. How can I organize small group GIS training for my department?

Step 1: Explore GIS training courses offered by Esri Canada via our online course catalogue. Use the search bar to explore by keyword, choose one of the topic buttons to narrow your search by area of interest or select a product or interest from one of the drop-down menus. To get you started, keep an eye out for some of our most popular courses: ArcGIS Pro: Essential Workflows, Building Web Apps with ArcGIS Experience Builder and Introduction to GIS Using ArcGIS. We’re adding new courses all the time, so check back regularly.
Step 2: Navigate to the course you’re interested in, then scroll down to the bottom of the page to see available dates if you’re registering as an individual.
Step 3: If you’re interested in scheduling a small group training, contact us to work out a date for your course. Please reach out directly to training@esri.ca with the name of the desired course and your estimated number of attendees.
Step 4: Reap the benefits of instructor-led training! Better skill retention, robust course materials and a warm small group learning atmosphere lie ahead.

Want to stay informed about all the latest training opportunities at Esri Canada? Visit Esri Canada’s Communication Preference Centre and select the “Training” checkbox to get a monthly roundup straight to your inbox.