Winnipeg, Esri Canada User Conference – May 22, 2014 – The Manitoba GIS User Group (MGUG) Inc. was honoured today with an Award of Excellence by Esri Canada for connecting and facilitating communication amongst the geomatics community in Manitoba.  With over 700 members, MGUG organizes a yearly conference, workshops and social events for members to learn more about current activities and technologies within the industry and to network with their peers.

“It was at the Esri Canada User Conference in 2006 that MGUG was first officially announced,” said Tony Viveiros, MGUG president. “With Esri’s continued support, and the support of all of our sponsors over the years, we have been able to significantly grow our membership and provide our members with valuable networking opportunities.  We hold events to foster an exchange of information, ideas and best practices.”

The success of their annual conference has made it Manitoba’s premier geospatial event with more than 300 geomatics attendees. They also encourage GIS education by sponsoring the MGUG Best Student Poster Award and the MGUG Post-Secondary Award which awards two $500 awards to post-secondary students in Manitoba who have demonstrated applied use of GIS or use of GIS within a research project.  In addition to their program offerings, they also organize regular social gatherings to create and support the relationships among its membership base in more informal settings.  As well, MGUG supports GIS Day and the Manitoba Skills Competition throughout the province.  

“MGUG is a strong proponent of GIS and has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to bring geomatics professionals in Manitoba together,” noted Alex Miller, president, Esri Canada. “This sustained effort to improve communication and information exchange will enable the geomatics community to continue to have a measurable and positive impact in the province.”

MGUG has outlined and begun to deliver on strategic priorities to support the exchange of information between its members.  A strategic plan has been developed to evolve MGUG into a more formalized organization.  Components of the strategic plan include: providing members with expanded networking opportunities, registering as a non-profit organization, promoting and encouraging the use of social media tools, expanding and promoting the MGUG geomatics Directory, supporting open data initiatives, retaining and growing membership within and beyond Manitoba and finally, developing mechanisms to support teachers with the delivery of GIS projects and curriculum.

About Manitoba GIS User Group
Founded in 2006, MGUG is a group of geomatics professionals and interested individuals using or supporting the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for spatial data management, analysis, and visualization. Formed to facilitate communication between people working in all areas of GIS, the User Group meets to allow its members to learn more about current activities and technologies within the industry and to network with their peers. Information about MGUG can be found at mgug.ca.  Follow MGUG on Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About Esri Canada
Founded in 1984, Esri Canada provides enterprise geographic information system (GIS) solutions that empower businesses, governments and educational institutions to make timely, informed and mission-critical decisions by leveraging the power of geography.  The company distributes the world's leading GIS software from Esri, Schneider Electric, Cityworks – Azteca Systems, Inc. and other technology partners.  Headquartered in Toronto, the company serves over 10,000 customers from 16 regional offices across Canada.  Esri Canada has joined the elite rank of Canada’s Best Managed companies and has been named to the Branham300.  Information about the company can be found at esri.ca. Follow Esri Canada on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn. 

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