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Geographical Thinking: E97 – The Community Map of Canada

Published Date

The Community Map of Canada is a living, breathing map built by and for Canadians! In this episode of the Geographical Thinking podcast, Alex Miller, president and founder of Esri Canada, talks with our Esri colleagues about this collaborative project. The Community Map of Canada brings together authoritative data from governments, communities and organizations across the country to create a detailed and accessible basemap of Canada.

From urban centres to remote wilderness, the Community Map of Canada reflects the diverse stories of this land. Whether you’re a GIS pro, a community advocate or just a curious map lover, this episode will inspire you to see Canada in a whole new way!

0:00 – Episode summary
0:45 – Intros
1:40 – Where did the idea come from?
4:00 – Economy & community
9:14 – Filling in the gaps
13:45 – Collaboration
17:10 – Data
20:24 – Foundation for the future
23:20 – Outro

We’re posting new episodes full of inspiring geography stories at least monthly. Subscribe to Esri Canada’s channel so you never miss a new episode of Geographical Thinking! Looking for resources on what we discussed in today’s podcast? Check them out below! 

Community Map of Canada Overview: The Community Map of Canada is a detailed, up-to-date basemap built from authoritative Canadian data, freely available for use in GIS applications. It is continuously updated thanks to contributions from governments, organizations and the GIS community. 

Contribute Your Data: Organizations can enhance the Community Map of Canada by contributing their authoritative data, improving accuracy and detail for all users. Esri Canada provides tools and support to streamline the data sharing process.

Community Map of Canada Resources: A collection of resources—including blogs, videos and technical guides—to help users explore, contribute to and maximize the benefits of the Community Map of Canada. 

How to Use the Community Map of Canada Vector Basemap in ArcGIS Online: This GeoSnap walks you through how you can add the Community Map of Canada vector basemap in ArcGIS Online so that you can take advantage of this Canada-focused basemap.