Time travelling through geography

1842

Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) is formed: Canada’s oldest scientific agency and one of its first government organization

1897

Geographical Names Board of Canada is established: a multi-jurisdictional body responsible for standards and policies on place names

1906-1915

The First and Second editions of the Atlas of Canada were published by the Department of the Interior

1920

Veteran pilots conduct aerial survey missions: supporting the intensive topographic mapping of Canada

1947

National topographical mapping: depicting landforms and terrain, lakes and rivers, and other man-made features

1962

Geographic Information System (GIS): this modern digital geospatial information system is developed in Canada

1972

NASA launches the 1st Earth Observation (EO) satellite

Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) processes the 1st Landsat images on behalf of the US

Government Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG) is founded

NRCan expands: builds network of ground stations

1980

Global Positioning Systems (GPS): is made available to civilians

1995

RADARSAT-1 launches operational radar satellite system:  providing useful information to both commercial and scientific users in disaster management, agriculture, cartography, hydrology, forestry, ice studies and coastal monitoring

1999

GeoConnections is launched: an NRCan program that manages geospatial data

Map of Canada is re-drawn: representing the creation of Nunavut

2000

Smart phones are equipped with GPS: making maps available at your fingertips

2005

The GeoConnections program focuses on supporting decision making in the four priority user communities of public safety and security; public health; the environment; and sustainable development and in matters of importance to Indigenous communities

2007

RADARSAT 2 is launched: ensuring Canada's continued leadership in the global marketplace for radar image data, helping in the management of our natural resources and the monitoring of the environment

2010

The Inuvik Satellite Station Facility (ISSF) opens

2011

The CCRS is the first organization other than the United States to win the Pecora prize for exceptional contributions to the field of remote sensing

2012

The Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation (CCMEO) is established

2017

Open Maps is launched: providing Canadians access to the Government of Canada’s geospatial information

2019

The GeoConnections program applies geospatial standards to climate change, disasters, marine, and Indigenous priorities

The RADARSAT Constellation Mission was launched

2021

The CCRS celebrates their 50th anniversary

2022

Geo.ca is live! and now the definitive source for Canada’s open geospatial resources