David Thompson Awards
Celebrating excellence in the field of geomatics in Canada
Celebrating excellence in the field of geomatics in Canada, the David Thompson National Geomatics Award was introduced in the winter of 2006-2007. The program was developed to recognize projects that exemplify the innovation and contribution to society that surveyors make every day to bring successful projects about for the betterment of all Canadians.
Named after David Thompson, an explorer and surveyor who almost single-handedly mapped Canada’s vast, unknown interior 200 years ago, these awards represent the pinnacle of work.
Who is eligible:
- A commissioned surveyor who was directly involved in the project being submitted may make a submission
- Furthermore, commissioned Surveyors must be members of the Canadian association that represents the jurisdiction of their commission
- A project that was completed within the last three (3) years shall be considered eligible for an award
- Candidates may select more than one category on the Candidate Submission Form regarding suitability of their submission.
Who can nominate:
- All commissioned surveyors in Canada can nominate a surveyor whose work they feel was outstanding.
This year there are two categories in which you can submit applications:
1. Challenging Cadastral Survey Project
2. Challenging Non Cadastral Survey Project
The next award will be presented to winner during the upcoming National Surveyors Conference.
Deadline for submissions annually: March 1st.
Why David Thompson Awards?
Why is it important?
The David Thompson National Geomatics Awards were created to honour the innovation, dedication and creativity of professional surveyors in Canada.
The program is presented by Professional Surveyors Canada and the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors to celebrate professional excellence in the field of geomatics. Named after David Thompson, an explorer and surveyor who almost single-handedly mapped Canada’s vast, unknown interior 200 years ago, these awards represent the pinnacle of work.
Who was David Thompson?
David Thompson (April 30, 1770 – February 10, 1857) was a British-Canadian fur trader, surveyor, and map-maker, known to some native peoples as “Koo-Koo-Sint” or “the Stargazer.” Over his career he mapped over 3.9 million square kilometers of North America from the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes all the way to the Pacific and has been described as the “greatest land geographer who ever lived.”
Through his career, David Thompson worked with different companies. He was first apprenticed for seven years to the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1784, which enabled him to leave his home in London, England. During his apprenticeship in Manitoba David Thompson refined and expanded his mathematical, astronomical and surveying skills under the tutelage of Hudson’s Bay Company surveyor Philip Turnor.
After his apprenticeship, David Thompson became a fur trader with the Hudson’s Bay Company and requested a set of surveying tools. After completing his first significant survey, a route to Lake Athabasca, he was promoted to a surveyor in 1794.
In 1797 David Thompson switched to working for the North West Company where he took part in surveying the US-Canada boundary among other projects. Between 1799 and 1806, Thompson mapped the entire trading territory east of the Rockies.
In 1806 David Thompson prepared an expedition to survey the Columbia River, mapping and establishing trading posts along the way. This made him the first European to navigate the full length of the river.
After his retirement from the North West Company in 1812, David Thompson settled near Montreal to complete his charts and maps, including a large detailed map of the Northwest, from Hudson’s Bay to the Pacific. He continued his survey work until 1846 when his bad vision forced him to stop.
Throughout his travels David Thompson worked closely with and was respected by the Aboriginal people. He spoke four languages: Peigan, Kootenay, Chipewyan and Manda and he used this knowledge to compile dictionaries
David Thompson died in Montreal on February 10, 1857.
For more information about David Thompson you can visit these websites:
http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/thompson_david_1770_1857_8E.html
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/david-thompson/
The Association of Canada Lands Surveyors is proud to announce the winners of the annual David Thompson Awards! The winners were presented at the National Surveyors Conference each year.