GEO.ca Permafrost Community Development

Government of Canada - Natural Resources Canada

Role: Project Lead, Content Creator, Web Content Manager
Tools: Photoshop · WordPress · GitHub · M365 · Trello

Overview

As the lead for GEO.ca's first dedicated Community space, I developed a centralized hub featuring permafrost data, tools, and resources from across Canada. This initiative, created with input from the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG), supports research, collaboration, and decision-making among government, academic, and industry stakeholders working on northern and Arctic permafrost topics.

Problem

Prior to this project, Canada lacked a centralized digital hub for permafrost resources. Data and tools were scattered across multiple organizations, making it challenging for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to access consistent, up-to-date information in one place.

Process and Outcome

I worked closely with the GEO.ca content and development teams, subject matter experts, and provincial and territorial stakeholders to design, curate, and launch the Permafrost Community pages.

• Content Development: Curated and organized information, datasets, reports, and tools from contributing federal, provincial, territorial, and private Canadian permafrost initiatives.
• Collaboration: Partnered with organizations including the CCOG Task Team to ensure national data representation and content accuracy.
• Visual and Web Design: Selected and secured high-quality photography, ensuring all assets met licensing and accessibility standards.
• Web Management: Managed content updates and structure using WordPress (Elementor), ensuring clear information hierarchy and mobile responsiveness.

The launch of the GEO.ca Permafrost Community established:

• A unified national resource hub for permafrost data, tools, and information
• Improved visibility for Canadian permafrost research and monitoring programs
• Streamlined access to open data supporting scientific and policy decisions
• Enhanced collaboration between government, academia, and northern communities

Reflection

This project strengthened my ability to lead a multi-stakeholder web project and enhanced my skills in digital content strategy and CMS tools. It reinforced the importance of thorough subject-matter research, visual content attribution, and plain-language copywriting in making technical resources accessible and usable for diverse audiences.