News Roundup – October 2026
Why does geographic information systems (GIS) technology belong at the heart of municipal planning? How is Milton Hydro using GIS to deliver more reliable service to customers? What steps should you take to run a gap analysis on your GIS workforce, then take action? Answers to all these questions and more in the October 2026 News Roundup from Esri Canada.
Feature Stories
GIS Day in Canada 2026: A celebration of Canadian GIS excellence
On November 17, 2026, Esri Canada’s annual showcase of Canadian GIS excellence returns. Discover how your peers are using maps, geospatial technology and spatial analysis to tackle Canada’s most pressing problems. This year’s event takes place virtually from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Keynote announcement coming soon. Register now to secure your front-row virtual seat!
Join us for GIS Day in Canada 2026 on November 17, 2026 from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time to celebrate GIS excellence across Canada.
Why GIS belongs at the heart of municipal planning
For a country that talks a big talk about prioritizing housing, Canada doesn’t seem to be using all the tools at our disposal. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Planning teams need to strengthen their relationship and pull in the same direction so that Planning is not an afterthought. Because Planning initiatives aren’t a distraction for GIS teams: GIS for planning is a strategic necessity.
Milton Hydro connects field & office teams with one map and utility network
As utilities grow, small information gaps can turn into operational blind spots. Learn how Milton Hydro unified network information across the organization to improve system awareness, streamline inspections and deliver more reliable service to customers.
Get more from your investment in geo with a GIS workforce assessment: pt. 2
GIS tools and data management maturity will only get you so far. To leverage organization-wide location intelligence, your workforce needs to be structured, managed and trained. In this conclusion to his two-part blog post series, Esri Canada management consultant Darren Sutton describes how to conduct a gap analysis on your GIS workforce, then create a plan to fill those gaps.
Stop doing it yourself and start planning smarter
Municipal planning teams don’t have to tackle every complex GIS project alone. Discover how Esri Canada’s Professional Services for Planning can help you save time and money, follow best practices, define clearer deliverables and empower your team with the right tools and training.
Esri Canada News
Esri Canada and Ville de Montréal win OCTAS award for Vision Zero innovation
September 2, 2026
Zita Cobb to deliver keynote at the 2026 Esri Canada User Conference
September 23, 2026
Esri News
Esri announces initiative to support small businesses and municipalities
September 1, 2026
Resources
ArcNews: Spatial data is the key to community conservation
Development, intensive agriculture and pollution routinely threaten the habitats of native pollinator species across North America. To mitigate these threats, John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, established their Habitat Hero initiative, a community science and pollinator conservation initiative, in 2022. The initiative distributes over 2,000 native plants annually to more than 1,000 residents, augmenting pollinator habitat and engaging participants in active conservation. As the program has expanded, so has the need for accurate, comprehensive geospatial data to assess its impact. In this case study, discover how ArcGIS technology has enabled the Habitat Hero team to collect and communicate a robust dataset and create easy-to-use apps.
Read the latest issue of ArcNews.
WhereNext: Fast Four ICYMI: Stepping out of the technical comfort zone
Three geospatial professionals from diverse companies share how they learned to approach their roles in new ways. Their experience holds lessons for GIS pros throughout the business world.
Read the latest articles from WhereNext.
Video: From data to dialogue: how spatial data drives meaningful conversations
Discover how Dublin, Ohio leveraged GIS and data visualization to guide stakeholder conversations, simplify complex planning issues and foster a collaborative, data-informed process that shaped the City’s recently adopted Envision Dublin Community Plan.
Video: Community Spotlight – Ville d’Amos
Gabriel Francoeur, GIS analyst with the Community Map of Canada team at Esri Canada, spotlights the City of Amos in the Abitibi region of Québec. Having participated in the Community Map since 2021, the City has not only contributed nine data layers of its own, but also has used personalized versions of the Community Map’s basemap to customize its mapping applications. The result: improved transparency of and access to local services for Amos residents.