Highlights at a Glance
Participation
- This year featured 17 teams and 51 competitors
- Competitors were provided with certificates that may be used in support of professional development or credential related documentation
- Competitors were given a candlelight tour of the McMaster Map Library
- Upon the release of this years prompt, competitors were brought on a tour of the problem site, providing them with better context for their solutions
- This is the first year that the competition has been live-streamed for easy viewing
Day 1
Starting off the competition, we were thrilled to welcome this year's competitors
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At our first event, participants were encouraged to engage in fun icebreaker activities. We featured geomatics-themed bingo cards, for which everyone wandered around the conference room and introduced themselves to each other. This was followed by a challenging game of geography trivia, where competitors collaborated with participants from different institutions.
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Day 2
The second day was packed with opportunities to network, connect, and learn
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The networking event allowed competitors to connect one-on-one with industry professionals from ESRI Canada, Stantec, Mining Matters, Dillon Consulting, and the McMaster Map Library. Through these conversations, they learned about various career paths in geomatics, the skills required for these roles, and gained insight into co-op placements, internships, and other opportunities.
From Esri Canada, Alex Smith, Rachel Godinho, and Jonathan Van Dusen gave three special presentations about Esri resources and the diverse functionality of their applications and their individual experiences with career development. |
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While half of the competitors began the 2026 NGC Scavenger Hunt, the other half were given a candlelit tour of the McMaster University Map Library.
During the tour, Saman Goudarzi, Cartographic Resources Librarian of the Lloyd Reeds Map Collection, guided everyone through a curated selection of historic maps, sharing a brief history of Hamilton and illustrating how the surrounding landscapes and communities have changed over time. |
Day 3
On the third day, the prompt was released and competitors got to work!
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This year, the prompt was...
Managing Event-Based Mobility at the TD Coliseum The newly renovated TD Coliseum is attracting major artists and high-profile events. To accommodate anticipated transportation demands, competitors were tasked with devising real-world geomatic-based solutions capable of handling high-volume traffic surges, improving access to public transit, and enabling efficient post-event dispersal. To provide teams with insight into traffic flow before, during, and after events within both interior and exterior areas of the venue, competitors were granted an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour. Energized by the tour, competitors explored downtown Hamilton before regrouping in their workrooms. |
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Day 4
On the fourth day, competitors presented their unique solutions to be judged by industry professionals
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Teams delivered outstanding presentations of their astounding solutions. A panel of judges assessed each project based on its practicality, sustainability, and potential impact on the community.
Following a short questioning period, teams had the rest of the day to relax and prepare for the Gala. |
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This years Gala and Award Ceremony was then held that evening!
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Everyone dressed to impress for the Gala! Competitors, judges, and special industry guests mingled, enjoying delicious food, and took fun photos at the custom photo booth.
Our co-chairs gave their inspiring speeches and announced the winners of the 2026 NGC Scavenger Hunt and the 2026 NGC. |
Congratulations to the 2026 NGC winners!
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FIRST PLACE
and winners of the 2026 Scavenger Hunt Competitors: Jeffrey C., Mussaab Manzer, and Solange Saucier Institution: Simon Fraser University |
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SECOND PLACE
Competitors: Alison Timmer, Jordan Prior, and Michael Thomas Pearse Wilson Institution: British Columbia Institute of Technology |
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Thank you to all the teams who presented their solutions! Please click the button below to view their presentations.
The 2026 NGC was held at McMaster University, located on the traditional territories of the Mississauga and Haudenosaunee nations, and within the lands protected by the “Dish with One Spoon” wampum agreement.