MEDIA RELEASE:1812 Bicentennial Map wins first prize at the world’s largest GIS conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Niagara Region – July 22, 2010 – The Bicentennial Map launched by the Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council won first prize in the Map Gallery for Best Cartographic Design at the 2010 ESRI International User Conference held last week in San Diego. The map was designed by John Docker, GIS Analyst with the Niagara Region, and is one of the Legacy Council’s most exciting projects to date.

The ESRI International User Conference is an annual event produced by the Environmental Systems Research Institute. It is the largest geographic information system (GIS) event in the world. This year’s conference attracted 15,000 attendees and featured works from over 100 countries. In addition to this award, the Bicentennial Map received previous recognition from ESRI Canada as it will be featured in the organization’s 2010 Calendar for the month of October.

The Bicentennial Map was officially unveiled in February 2010 and includes 125 points of interest organized along six trails that guide visitors through Niagara. Each trail is associated with a narrative that tells the history of the War of 1812. This prominent award is essential in promoting the Bicentennial celebrations, as the Map is used as an educational tool highlighting the significant role that the Niagara Region played in the War of 1812. The creation, printing and distribution of the Map were made possible by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism as well as the Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo.

The award-winning map can be found in schools, local museums, historical attractions, and tourism outlets throughout Ontario and Western New York. The featured points of interest on the Map can also be found online at www.discover1812.com under “Trip Ideas”.

The Niagara 1812 Bicentennial Legacy Council is a bi-national not-for-profit organization established to commemorate the War of 1812 and celebrate the 200 years of peace between Canada and the United States which have followed.

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