The Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL) is launching a new geospatial and health informatics storage and data discovery tool that, along with the social science data delivery system <odesi> , will provide a portal to Ontario researchers to access numeric and spatial datasets.  The new project is made possible with support from the Government of Ontario through the OntarioBuys initiative, and will be completed in three years. 

The portal system will provide a secure repository for geospatial files and serve as a health informatics cyberinfrastructure that will also include an integrated online mapping tool to improve the accessibility and ease of use of geo-referenced data and geospatial files.  Together, the <odesi> and geospatial portal systems will increase accessibility of data and geospatial files to researchers in all disciplines across Ontario's Universities. 

For more information, contact Leanne Hindmarch, Data & Geospatial Librarian, Scholars Portal, leanne@scholarsportal.info.

Project Governance

Project Organizational Chart

Project Management Group

Jenny Marvin, University of Guelph, SPOD Data and GIS Rep (Chair)
Joyce Garnett, University of Western Ontario, OCUL Director Liaison for Data and Maps
Kathy Scardellato, OCUL Executive Director
Alan Darnell, Manager, Scholars Portal
Leanne Hindmarch, Data and Geospatial Librarian, Scholars Portal
Dan Jakubek, Ryerson
Colleen Beard, Brock University
Michelle Edwards, University of Guelph
Liz Hill, University of Western Ontario

External Advisory Committee

Costas Armenakis, York University
Joyce Garnett, University of Western Ontario
Mark Haslett, University of Waterloo
Claus Rinner, Ryerson University
Mike Robertson, Ministry of Natural Resources
Chris Sambol, Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre
Michael Sawada, University of Ottawa (Chair)
John Teskey, University of New Brunswick
Jean Tong, ESRI Canada
Terrance Wade, Brock University
Leila Wallenius, Laurentian University
Elsa Wong, Ministry of Finance
Kevin Yam, Ministry of Health
Ex-officio:
Neera Bhatnagar, McMaster University (COAHL Representative)
Leanne Hindmarch, Scholars Portal (Project Manager)
Jenny Marvin, University of Guelph (SPOD Data & Geospatial Representative)
Jeff Moon, Queen's University (OCUL DINO Group Representative)
Kathy Scardellato, OCUL (Executive Director)
Barbara Znamirowski, Trent University (OCUL Maps Group Representative)

EAC members may log on to view additional information.

Teaching and Learning Working Group
Mandate: Support teaching and learning activities of OCUL colleagues and users related to the geospatial portal.

Colleen Beard, Brock (Chair)
Eva Dodsworth, Waterloo
Susan Greaves, Queen's
Leanne Hindmarch, Scholars Portal
Jenny Marvin, Guelph
Andrew Nicholson, UTM
Pam Schaus, Laurier
Cheryl Woods, Western

Health Data Collections Working Group
Mandate: Seek and develop relationships with new and established data creators and providers in order to obtain metadata and numeric and geospatial data

Sandra Keys, Waterloo (Chair)
Neera Bhatnagar, McMaster - Health Library
Leanne Hindmarch, Scholars Portal
Jenny Marvin, Guelph
Susan Mowers, Ottawa
Berenica Vejvoda, Toronto
Wendy Watkins, Carleton

Technical, Standards and Collections Working Group
Mandate: Provide support and direction for technical, metadata and collections issues specific to the development and testing of the Geoportal application.

Marcel Fortin, Toronto (Chair)
Tracy Armstrong, Trent
Trudy Bodak, York
Peter Genzinger, Laurier
Leanne Hindmarch, Scholars Portal
Dan Jakubek, Ryerson
Sylvie Lafortune, Laurentian
Jenny Marvin, University of Guelph
Linda Mitchell, Lakehead
Alison Tremblay, Laurentian
Barb Znamirowski, Trent University