COGS Turned 25!

Last Update (25 June 2012):
Over a hundred grads and friends gathered at the Geomatics Atlantic 2012 conference on 13 June 2012 in Halifax, to celebrate COGS having turned 25. There were recollections by:

• John Wightman (Principal 1986 – 1994)
• Edward Wedler (Remote Sensing Faculty, 1980s),
• Tim Webster (as each of student, RS Faculty, & Research Scientist), &
• Jim Stanley (Principal 2005 – 2012) who introduced
• Isabel Madiera-Voss (new Principal).

Door prizes were won by Heather Craig and Corey Nelson. There were revolving slideshows, and grads on maps & displayed in Google Earth (online map at http://bit.ly/COGSGradMap has 325+ grads). Music was provided by sisters Cassie & Maggie MacDonald.

Update on 11 June 2012:

• Want to attend this event, but not registered for Geomatics Atlantic? No trouble: cost is $10 / just show up! I'd appreciate an RSVP (for numbers) to COGSTurned25@gmail.com
• As of this AM, there are 260+ grads on the map (from 1983 to 2012); Excellent! Can we hit 300?
• We have a good variety of speakers: John Wightman, Edward Wedler, Tim Webster, Jim Stanley, Isabel Madiera-Voss; amusing grads-on-maps; memories-based slideshow; great music!

Update for 29 May 2012:

• For those not attending Geomatics Atlantic, there will be a nominal fee to cover costs (probably $10) and an RSVP invitation. Stay tuned.
• It'd be great to have lots of grads here!

• Where are you, COGS Grads? Include your first name / last initial / grad year / program on a map for @GeoAtlantic / #GeoAtlantic at http://www.gans.ca/cogsgradmap . (By doing so, you agree to display your name/location.)
• If that map doesn't show your co-ordinate pin, don't fret: it is in the database; try: (1) delete temp browser files or (2) close/re-open browser. We've tried Firefox, IE & Chrome.
• Duplicate co-ordinates: only the first entry shows on the map; other(s) are in database, though and will be displayed (via Google Earth, ArcGIS Online, ...) on Wednesday evening!
• In case anyone is curious: that map was done in Google cloud with shared Google Docs (& forms), linked to Google Fusion Tables with a Google Apps Script. Produced by Jeff McKenna (2003). Kudos, too, for idea: Kevin H (2006); and testers: Mike C (2010) & Kevin C (2008).

Update on 25 May 2012:
Do you have pictures from your time at COGS (or NSLSI) that you'd like to share in a PowerPoint? Send them to COGSTurned25@gmail.com ; include any: description, year, names of people, your name, ..., that you'd like.

Original message (8 May 2012):
In recognition of COGS turning 25, we are planning a celebration on Wednesday evening, 13 June 2012, during Geomatics Atlantic. There will be:

• Speakers reminiscing their recollections over the years
• Music provided by Cassie & Maggie MacDonald (see http://cassieandmaggie.com/home.cfm )
• Finger foods
• Expectation that celebrations will continue afterward (at your choice of downtown venue)

A bit of history: during graduation exercises in August of 1986, the previous Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute (NSLSI) name was retired and the College of Geographic Sciences (COGS) was created. Fast forward to today: now as part of NSCC, the Centre of Geographic Sciences has had 25 years of the COGS moniker! More history details are on page 3 of http://bit.ly/COGSGrads2012

Here are a few ways you can take part:

• Attend, listen and partake (this is the best way!)
• Can’t make it? Send David.MacLean@nscc.ca a celebratory message by 10 June; we’ll assemble a revolving PowerPoint
• Participate in an online “where are the grads now?” map … details to follow
• Interested in a twitter approach? Let Dave know of your interest and he’ll set up a hashtag … then run visibletweets.com (ie http://visibletweets.com/#query=...) during the evening