FIG President Stig Enemark visits Quebec Conference 2007,
Quebec, Canada, October 2007

Quebec, Canada, 2 - 5 October 2007

 
Overview of the Old Quebec City at the
Lawrence River

FIG President Stig Enemark attended the Quebec 2007 Conference, in Quebec Canada, 2-5 October 2007 as a key note speaker.

The conference was co-organised by the Canadian Institute of Geomatics (CIG), the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec (OAGQ), Laval University (UL) and the Department of Natural Resources and Wildlife (MRNF).  Daniel Roberge, Director of the Office of the Surveyor General of Quebec, Pierre Tessier, President of OAGQ; and Annick Jaton from Laval University, president of the Champlain Branch of CIG were the co-president of this international conference.

The welcoming theme “Histoire de voir le monde,” of the conference attracted around 1200 participants especially from the French-speaking surveying and geomatics community here of 900 from the Quebec province, 150 from the rest of the all Canadian provinces and 150 participants from about 40 other countries throughout the world. Focus was on the Francophone countries with a strong attendance from the Africa. Most presentations were in French with a few in English. Simultaneous translation was provided at all sessions.

Plenary sessions included presentations from Louise Ouellet, Assistant Deputy Minister of MRNF; Stig Enemark, FIG President; Remy Sietchiping, Land tenure specialist, UN-HABITAT; John McLaughlin, rector, University of New-Brunswick; Michel Paradis, general manager, GéoQuébec; Keith Bell, Senior land policy specialist, World Bank:

Themes of the technical sessions ranged from Cadastre and Land Rights around the World; Securing of Land Rights; Municipal Land-Use Planning; GeoSpatial Information Management; Urban Development; Education; Professional Organizations; Professional Challenges; 3D Applications; Imagery and Remote sensing; Geo Cooperation; and International Cooperation.

The conference was very well organized with high level plenary sessions and a range of interesting technical sessions and workshops. A total of about 150 presentations were given. Papers and presentation at the plenary sessions are available at
http://www.quebec2007.ca/english/program-conferences-mainsessions.asp ; The technical sessions are available at http://www.quebec2007.ca/english/program-conferences.asp ; and a Photo Gallery can be found at: http://www.quebec2007.ca/english/gallery.asp 

A special feature during the conference was the lunch-on sessions for celebration of three special events. The 100 year anniversary of the Department of Geomatics, University of Laval, Quebec province, the 125th anniversary of the Canadian Institute of Geomatics; and the 125th anniversary of the Association of the Quebec Surveyors. These sessions included presentations and award ceremonies, where especially a presentation from the Canadian astronaut Mr. Steve McLean attracted great attention.

The conference also included a general assembly of the Federation des Geometres Francophones. and a range of training workshops and technical tours were offered.

A special workshop of FIG Commission 7, Working Group 7.2 was organized by the Vice-Chair Soeren Faurholm Christensen and Daniel Roberge on the theme Land Administration for Sustainable Development. The workshop gathered about 50 participants from 21 countries. Keynotes were presented by Remy Sietchiping, UN-Habitat; Keith Bell, the World Bank; and Stig Enemark, FIG President. Photo gallery is available at http://www.quebec2007.ca/english/gallery-events.asp#fig.


FIG President Stig Enemark with two of the Conference
Organizers Pierre Tessier (President of Quebec Land Surveyors) and
Daniel Roberge (Director of the Quebec Cadastral Office)
holding his award for eminent contribution to the Quebec
Surveying Community


Stig Enemark with the delegation from the Ivory Coast
to become a Member of FIG. From left: Kokoh Adjoumany Emile,
Stig Enemark, Kotokou Kouakou Urbain, and Brahima Traore


The spectacular La Frontenac Castle in Quebec is now
used as a hotel


Daniel Roberge, Stig Enemark, Keth Bell, and
Soren Faurholm Christensen at the welcome reception


President Stig Enemark and Remy Sietchiping from
UN-Habitat.at the final plenary debate

On October 4th, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the space era (marked by the launching of the first satellite Spoutnik 1), Dr Steve McLean, Astronaut in chief, Canadian Space Agency was the guest speaker invited to mark the 125th anniversary of the CIG. On the picture, Dr McLean with Mr Stig Enemark and Mrs Annick Jaton, president of the Champlain Branch of CIG and copresident of GeoConference Quebec 2007.