"Selkirk College has made significant contributions in the field of GIS by furthering the use of geospatial technology for solving real world problems, as well as producing top quality graduates from their Advanced Diploma in GIS program," said Mr. Doherty. "Their courses provide training covering the breadth of geospatial technology and software used in research, industry, and government organizations. They have introduced students and teachers to the world of GIS through their Geospatial Research Centre - I applaud their efforts."

The Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre (SGRC) is a leading-edge research centre specializing in mapping technologies to aid in solving critical issues pertaining to environmental and socio-economic problems. Their experienced and capable researchers apply the best technology to help students approach decisions with greater understanding and discover a better way to make informed decisions in a complex world.

For comprehensive training and education in geospatial technologies Selkirk College established an Advanced Diploma in GIS. Their faculty and associate instructors are actively engaged in research and teaching, making the SGRC a leader in scientific scholarship and instructional practice. Selkirk College is the only institution in the area offering training using the latest ESRI desktop and server technology.

"The ESRI Canada Award of Excellence is a wonderful recognition of the hard work and support of a diverse team at Selkirk College consisting of faculty, past and present students, and associate faculty and researchers from industry, academia, and government," said Donna Delparte, Coordinator, Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre.

Students in the GIS program are exposed to installing and administering ArcSDE and ArcIMS. They also work closely with organizations in the community in setting up and hosting ArcIMS solutions. For example, the Selkirk Geospatial Research Centre is working collaboratively with the Kootenay Spatial Data Partnership to develop ArcIMS applications for furthering research in sustainable forest management practices. The partnership is collaboration between industry, government agencies, and Selkirk College.

ESRI Canada presents Awards of Excellence annually to organizations and individuals across the country for their outstanding achievement in the application of GIS technology.

About ESRI Canada:
Established in 1984, ESRI Canada is a Canadian owned company specializing in geographic information systems (GIS) solutions. We distribute the world's leading GIS software solutions from ESRI Inc., Miner and Miner, and Azteca. In order to provide organizations with complete industry-specific solutions we have established an extensive business partner program that includes more than 125 Canadian organizations. ESRI Canada also provides professional services including consulting, training, technical support, and enterprise GIS implementation. We are leaders in providing world-class enterprise GIS solutions for many industries including local government, utilities, public safety and defence, business demographics, education, natural resources, and transportation. ESRI Canada has thirteen regional offices across the country, with headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. For more information, please visit http://www.esricanada.com/ or call 1-800-447-9778.

Media Contacts:
Heather Adams
Communications Specialist
ESRI Canada
T: 416-386-6463
E: hadams@esricanada.com
W: http://www.esricanada.com/
 

Donna Delparte
SGRC Coordinator
Selkirk College
T: 250-365-7292 Ext. 340
E: DDelparte@selkirk.ca
W: http://selkirk.ca/programs/rr/sgrc/