My friend, colleague, and former URISA President Barry Wellar was inducted on March 14, 2019 into the Order of Canada by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Governor General Payette said of Barry:

Barry Wellar is a trailblazer in the field of geographic information science (GIS). Professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa, he has been a strong advocate for the field’s recognition as a legitimate domain of scientific inquiry as well as a fundamental research tool. He pioneered the use of GIS applications in public-sector planning at all levels of government, particularly within the urban context. His leadership within the field, both in academia and industry, is extensive and lauded.

In 2011 Barry was inducted into the URISA GIS Hall of Fame, where you can read more about his extensive contributions to the field of GIS.

Woops, that’s Barry Wellar, C.M.