Local Students Compete in GIS StoryMap Contest

Grade 7 and 8 students across Bruce and Grey counties competed in a GIS Day contest. Three finalists were recognized for their outstanding work in solving real-world, local geography issues using the GIS platform.

In recognition of GIS Day, held annually in November, Bruce County and Grey County collaborated to offer a GIS contest for local schools. GIS Day celebrates the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) — a scientific framework for gathering, analyzing and visualizing geographic data to help us make better decisions.

The contest, sponsored by Esri Canada and Bruce Power, challenged students to answer one of two questions in the form of an ArcGIS StoryMap, produced using the cloud-based GIS platform named ArcGIS Online. With over 420 students from 17 classrooms at nine schools — five in the Bluewater District School Board and four in the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board — students worked in teams to collectively submit 98 StoryMaps for judging.

To share their passion and career paths—and inspire students about geography and real-world applications of GIS, staff from Bruce Power, Municipality of Kincardine, Town of Saugeen Shores, and Bruce and Grey Counties formed a Bruce-Grey GIS Day Organizing Committee, serving as expert support for classrooms throughout the contest period and as judges.

Top finalists and contest winners were announced at a virtual awards ceremony on Wednesday, November 30.

• First place and winner of ArcGIS software license, mobile device charger, Bruce Power toque, and $50 Visa prepaid card:
  • Bruce and Grey County by Cash Masse and Ewan Dennison
• Second place and winner of ArcGIS software license, mobile device charger, and $50 Visa prepaid card:
  • Welcome to Saugeen Shores by Johnny Ballard and Ben Charbonneau
• Third place and winner of Bruce Power toques and water bottles:
  • More Than Just A Town by Olivia Abbot, Tatum Schmitt and Beckett Haugh

Finalists:

• Bruce and Grey County by Cash Masse and Ewan Dennison
• Experience Saugeen Shores by Emma Redmond and Victoria Buckland
• Great Tourist Activities in Saugeen Shores by Cash Robbins
• Kincardine la place pour des touristes by Mya Lamont and Adelyn Haase
• More Than Just A Town by Olivia Abbott, Tatum Schmitt and Beckett Haugh
• Saugeen Shores Tour by Summer Reiley, Addison Kaake and Chloe McKinnon
• Saugeen Shores Tourist Locations by Anthony Protasenko and Carter Mcgillivray
• Things For Teens To Do In Owen Sound Area by Tamati Douglas, Wyatt Fry and Kai Bonterre
• Tourism in Grey and Bruce County by Maangly Jani and Goutham Pasumarthi
• Welcome to Saugeen Shores by Johnny Ballard and Ben Charbonneau

“GIS is an important tool we use to make decisions, in business, in government, and for how we navigate our lives. Local students showcased just how powerful the GIS platform can be in helping to navigate changes in our local communities. Congratulations to all finalists,” said Justin Kraemer, GIS Coordinator at Bruce County and member of the Bruce-Grey GIS Day Organizing Committee. “Thank you to all teachers involved who welcomed GIS in classroom instruction, helping students build skills in mapping, data management and analysis. And thank you Mr. Cory Munro of Saugeen District Senior School for his tireless support in making the contest a reality.”

Learn more about the contest and view all contest entries. 

For more information, contact:

Carley Donaldson, Bruce County Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Planning and Development 

cdonaldson [at] brucecounty.on.ca (cdonaldson[at]brucecounty[dot]on[dot]ca) or 519-292-6710 

Rob Hatten, Grey County Communications Manager

rob.hatten [at] grey.ca (rob[dot]hatten[at]grey[dot]ca) or 519-373-1592