Canada from Space Educational Giant Floor Map Unveiled

A new “Canada from Space” map for educators is now available from a collaboration between the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS), the Canadian Space Agency and Canada’s Aviation and Space Museum (CASM).

The unveiling of the map was at the Canada’s Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa yesterday.
The “Canada from Space” map is part of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society Giant Floor Map program. There are a total of five giant Canadian maps each measuring 11 by 8 metres and weighing 45 kilograms with each having a bilingual classroom activities for use by teachers. The other four giant maps are:
– Parks Canada: Places and Spaces for Everyone
– The Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement
– Canada’s Energy: Production and Transmission
– The War of 1812
In his remarks the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Industry said “thanks to the tremendous success of former International Space Station commander Chris Hadfield, and Canadian inventions like the Canadarm and Dextre, students all across this country know and understand many of Canada’s important contributions to exploring the cosmos. We’re pleased to unveil the Canada from Space map, giving Canadian students a chance to look back at our planet from space. I hope that it will inspire young Canadians to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math so that we can continue to learn, explore, and push the boundaries of human ingenuity.”

The themes discussed in the classroom activities are linked to Earth Observation which is critical to Canadians everyday activities. They themes include: disaster management; pollution; water and oceans; ice monitoring; navigation; resource monitoring; and weather.
The Canada from Space map and associated teaching tools will be available to schools across Canada to help students to better understand the important role space and Earth Observation satellites play in their daily lives.
Stephen Quick, Director General, Canada Aviation and Space Museum said “this is a really exciting collaborative project for the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation that both complements our work in engaging school children with their Science and Technology heritage and shows how the work of the CSA enriches the lives of all Canadians. By collaborating with the Royal Canadian Geographic Society and the CSA in creating these beautiful and innovative maps, we can provide students with a new and unique perspective on their world and their place in it.”
Each of the maps is a mosaic of 121 images of Canada taken from space by Canada’s Radarsat-2 satellite.
Teachers will be able to reserve the maps from the Canadian Geographic Education website. The maps will begin circulating September and are currently available until 2017.
Through a collaboration with the CASM, the RCGS will be responsible for the bookings and circulation of these maps across Canada. Each map will visit roughly 14 schools per year, free of charge.
“Few Canadian students will ever travel in space but many will have the opportunity to view the country from space thanks to this unique educational resource. As a geographical society, our mission is to help chart Canada’s future. This innovative educational resource serves our mission and we are grateful to our partners, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum and the Canadian Space Agency, for their far-sightedness and their support” said John Geiger, CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
According to the government they invested $135,000 for the development of the maps, teacher’s kits, and activities for students.
Related:
– Royal Canadian Geographical Society’s Giant Floor Map Program.