Yesterday (November 17) was World GIS Day. This seemed appropriate since Roger Tomlinson, ’Father of GIS’ was born November 17, 1933. He died in 2014.
Esri Canada celebrated with a Virtual Conference. The keynote speaker was Zita Cobb.
She presented her work with the Shorefast Foundation on Fogo Island, Newfoundland, entitled ’The Possibility of an Island’. It was a remarkable presentation with many insights, into the role of community and Geography.
(I have asked Alex Miller, President, Esri Canada if he could arrange access to an online link to her presentation). Here is a sample of her selected quotations.
- Geography is how we are going to reinvent.
- Every snowflake in an avalanche, pleads not guilty.
- Nature and Culture are the two great garments of life.
- The unit of change is community.
- The PLACE model.
I attended the Zoom call as the recipient of the RF Tomlinson Lifetime Achievement award. This feels very weird. Almost a “kiss of death”. But stay tuned, as we try to understand how the ideas of Zita Cobb can be applied in the Annapolis Valley.
Meanwhile, I dropped into Beavercreek Winery Christmas Craft Fair last weekend. I found the Mare Gold bookstore had travelled along Highway #201 from Annapolis Royal. They usually have a stall at the Annapolis Royal market. Among the excellent selection, I picked out two books: Sue Stuart-Smith’s “The Well-Gardened Mind: The Restorative Power of Nature”, and MacDonald and Gates’, “Orchard: A Year in England’s Eden“.
Both books are recent contributions from England. The first appeals directly to our gardening in rural Nova Scotia. The second is a brief history of the English orchard. It follows the seasons, one chapter for each month of the year. Since we have managed Raymond Hunter’s organic orchard for the last decade or so, it was easy to relate to the ecology, even in a different country.
Acknowledgements
Alex Miller and his team for hosting the online celebration. Zita Cobb for setting a wonderful example of community. Edward for his artistic and technical skills. Heather for her botanical interests which connect with my Biogeography.
References
Sue Stuart-Smith, 2020, The Well-Gardened Mind, Scribner.
B.MacDonald and N. Gates, 2021, Orchard: A Year in England’s Eden, William Collins Books.
Zita Cobb, 2021, The Possibility of an Island, Shorefast Foundation, a presentation on World GIS Day, November 17, 2021.
Ernest Blair Experiment 
That RF Tomlinson Lifetime Achievement award is well deserved. Without your input and role, COGS, AGRG and the GIS community would not be where they are today. You have always shown yourself to be a passionate geographer, GIS-leader and inspiration to your colleagues and students. The peers that count have recognized, and respected, a giant (a geo-giant) amongst us.
Just think of how many careers and lives you have affected in a positive way … and , in turn, all those “mini-Bobs”, those dots, making their positive impact on our world because of you. I repeat … Because of you.
Yes, this award is well deserved. Well done, mate.
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Congratulations Bob, a well deserved honour. It has been my personal and professional honour to have worked with over the years. Warm regards to you and Heather
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Tim:
I have fond memories of our time at SSFC and OMNR. It was a very productive time. Hope you and Judy are well in NB.
Bob
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