QGIS for Planning and Local Government is a hands-on, tutorial-based workshop 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 workshop 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.

Workshop 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.

• 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

Upcoming Sessions

• The Alberta Professional Planners Institute is hosting a virtual session on June 16th and 17th, 2026. Click here for more information and to register.