QGIS for Planning and Local Government is a hands-on, tutorial-based training course designed to help municipal and regional staff harness the full potential of QGIS, a free and open-source desktop GIS application used by local governments around the world. Through a combination of guided instruction and practical exercises, participants will learn how to perform common spatial analysis tasks, create and manage data, and produce high-quality maps and reports tailored to municipal needs.

This course emphasizes real-world applications—such as mapping demographics, analyzing urban walkability, identifying suitable sites for development, and assessing environmental hazards—to demonstrate how QGIS can support data-driven decision-making across planning, engineering, public works, and environmental departments.

By the end of the course, participants will:

1. Understand the main tools and features of QGIS.
2. Gain hands-on experience solving real-world spatial problems.
3. Build the confidence to independently use QGIS for mapping and spatial analysis tasks in their own organizations.

Dates & Location

October 02, 2026, 10am to 5pm EST

4881 Yonge Street, Suite 401, Toronto, Ontario

Course Format

The course is delivered through eight instructor-led modules, each combining short lectures, demonstrations, and step-by-step tutorials. The instructor introduces each topic, explains relevant GIS concepts, and then guides participants through applied exercises using municipal datasets.

Workshop Format

The workshop is delivered through the following eight instructor-led modules, each combining short lectures, demonstrations, and step-by-step tutorials. The facilitator introduces each topic, explains relevant GIS concepts, and then guides participants through applied exercises using municipal datasets.

• Module 1: QGIS Application Overview
• Module 2: Mapping Urban Demographics
• Module 3: Map Production and Reporting
• Module 4: Create and Edit Spatial and Attribute Data 
• Module 5: Multi-criteria Site Suitability Analysis
• Module 6: Hazard Mapping
• Module 7: Walkability Analysis
• Module 8: Green Space and Tree Canopy Analysis

Registration

This course is being offered through the Ontario Professional Planners Institute. Register for this course here.