The department of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has ministerial responsibilities to lead the GeoConnections program. GeoConnections is a national program with the mandate and responsibility to lead the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure (CGDI) through the use of standards-based technologies and operational policies for data sharing and integration.
Through long-term participation to advance the CGDI, NRCan, as led by GeoConnections, has become a Strategic Member of the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). The OGC is an international geospatial standards organization that works to improve the interoperability and use of a wide variety of geospatial information through open standards and collaboration. OGC activities thus have a direct impact on the ability of the CGDI to develop.
As a Strategic member of the Consortium, NRCan has responsibilities and an inherent interest in advancing the activities of the OGC. Part of these responsibilities include facilitating regular meetings for OGC members. Termed Technical and Planning committee meetings, these gatherings are crucial for the advancement of the OGC. NRCan will be participating in and helping to facilitate an upcoming Technical and Planning Committee meeting, scheduled for September 9-13 at the Banff Centre in Banff, Alberta.
