Join us for a transformative day on October 1 in Peterborough!

BeSpatial Ontario is thrilled to announce the upcoming GIS in-person event to be held at MNR (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources) offices in Peterborough, Ontario!

Join us for a transformative day exploring the journey from vision to implementation in the world of digital twins. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to scale your efforts, this event is designed to demystify the “why, what, and how” of digital twins – and highlight the real value they bring to municipalities, public infrastructure, environment and beyond.

• When: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
• Time: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm EDT
• Where: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 300 Water Street, Peterborough

Who should attend?

Professionals, innovators, and decision-makers across sectors who are curious about digital twins and eager to build smarter, more connected and resilient communities.

What to expect:

• Insightful keynotes from leading voices in digital innovation
• Real-world case studies and lessons learned
• Practical frameworks for getting started and sustaining success
• Networking across industries and sectors

Spread the word!	Please share this information with your colleagues who may not be aware of BeSpatial events.
Community Engagement	Non-member registrants will receive a complimentary BeSpatial membership for the remaining 2025.

Continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, coffee service and social networking is included.

Your contribution and support play a crucial role in supporting this geospatial and information community event and ensuring its success.

If you have questions, dietary restrictions, or accessibility needs, please contact: Phil Healey eastern@bespatialontario.ca

Discount on rooms until August 31st

If you require a hotel room, a block of rooms has been set aside September 30th and October 1st at the Holiday Inn and at the Best Western in Peterborough. 

To reserve a hotel room please call: (705) 522-1122 or toll free at 1-800-461-4883. Indicate you would like to book a room under the Group Block BeSpatial Ontario by August 31st.

Agenda

Morning Presentations

8:00 - 8:30 am | Registration & Networking

Welcome, coffee/breakfast, and informal networking

8:30 - 8:45 am | Opening Remarks (BeSpatial Ontario, Geospatial Ontario) and Land Acknowledgement) including an overview from MNR on the Ontario Geospatial Hub

 8:45 - 9:15 am | Framing the Day: Digital Twins & Provincial Infrastructure Priorities

Speaker: Mark Fox, Professor of Urban Systems Engineering, University of Toronto reveals how digital twins - integrating BIM, IoT, and AI bring design concepts to life.  He demonstrates how Global Cities ISO 21972 and 5870 empower urban centers, small towns, and remote communities to validate designs, optimize resources, and deliver sustainable projects.

 9:15 - 9:45 am | BIM Requirements for Residential Housing in Ontario

Speaker: buildingsmartCanada to  discuss how BIM requirements are relevant for projects seeking CMHC Program funding and approvals.

9:45 - 10:15 am | OGC and ISP 19650

Speaker: Ontario Geospatial Consortium/Geospatial Ontario (GEO)) will discuss how the OGC and ISO 19650 play vital roles in the world of interoperability and integration between geospatial data and BIM workflows.

10:15 -10:45 am | Coffee Break & Networking

10:45 -11:15 am | Concept to Reality - Part 1

Topic: Digital Twining with Open Data Tools with Speakers: Ken Percy, Research Team Lead and Nico Arellano Carleton Digital Twin Campus, openBIM

11:15 -12:00 noon | Concept to Reality - Part 2

Topic: Remote sensing, AI Classification of Public Infrastructure for Digital Twins with Speakers: Michael Martin and Greg McQuat, co-Founders | Ottawa Digital Twin Team (TBC) and/or Twinworks.

12:00 - 1:00 pm | Lunch & Networking

Afternoon Presentations

1:00 - 1:30 pm | Best Practices & Use Cases

Speaker: Aradh Shahi, CEO | LandLogic AI and Zoning Bylaw Summaries

1:30 - 2:00 pm | City of Toronto (case study transportation and housing and/or Toronto water distribution system)

Speaker: Megan Katumi, Research Associate, University of Toronto

2:00 - 2:30 pm | MTO Provincial Bridge BIM & Digital Twins

Speaker: TBD | Welland Canal Digital Twin

2:30 -3:00 pm | Coffee Break & Networking

3:00 - 3:15 pm | Eglinton Crosstown West Extension

Speaker: Carol McClelland, Arup 

3:15 - 3:30 pm | Future Challenges and Opportunities

Topic: BeSpatial YPN-Young Profession Network and GO Open Data (GOOD) Design Challengers

Speakers: Jonathan Brown, GOOD and Jessica Hobbins, BeSpatial YPN 

3:30 - 4:00 pm | Thought leaders discuss future challenges and opportunities

4:00 - 4:15 pm | Call to Action GIS Week and National Housing Day

4:15 - 4:20 pm | GIS Week and National Housing Day Reskilling Challenge Pitch

Speaker: Jonathan Brown, GOOD

4:20 - 4:30 pm | Closing Remarks

Social Networking Hour to follow

What Awaits You:

Engaging Presentations: Esteemed speakers will share their collaborative GIS and data sharing stories and how these interactions have aided their business and career journey's, shaping their organizations and community's future in the process. Their valuable insights are sure to inspire you!

Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow attendees who share your passion for GIS, and data analytics solutions. Build meaningful professional connections and foster collaboration.

Interactive Q&A Sessions: Engage in lively and enriching Q&A discussions with our esteemed speakers. Pose questions and delve deeper into the GIS applications presented.

Best Practices: Immerse yourself in learning best practices from others showcasing the latest GIS tools and technologies. Witness firsthand how GIS is revolutionizing business and government efforts.

Join the Movement: Together, let us be a driving force behind positive change and the pursuit of a more collaborative, more sustainable world through the power of GIS. We envision this event as a catalyst for innovative solutions and lasting partnerships.

Register Now, Share the Invitation: Mark your calendars and extend our invitation to your peers and colleagues. Your presence will undoubtedly enrich the event, and we hope to see you there!

Benefits of being a BeSpatial member:

Grow your Geospatial and Information Network

Being part of the Ontario community connects you to other geospatial and information professionals across multiple sectors. Attending our events, workshops and webinars allows you to meet other users experiencing the same challenges that you face. It's an opportunity to build partnerships and share ideas.

Receive the Latest News

As a member of the community, you will receive our regular eNews email blasts, which will keep you up to date on the latest geospatial and information news, events, job postings and more that are happening in Ontario.  

Earn Professional Credits

Members earn credits towards professional designations such as the GISP by being members and attending or presenting at Ontario geospatial events.

Member Discounts and Access to Library of Session Recordings

Offers discounted member prices to all of our and services such as job postings, webinars and onsite events. Members also have access to past recordings from our webinars and our annual virtual event. 

Sponsors