The Canadian Polar Data Workshop VI (CPDW6) took place June 8–12, 2026, in Waterloo, Ontario at St. Jerome’s University, located at the University of Waterloo. CPDW6 was an in-person event.
Program
The Canadian Polar Data Workshop VI featured presentations and discussions on a wide variety of data, information, and knowledge related topics, including:
- Knowledge Mobilization and Decision Making
- Knowledge Co-Production and Indigenous Data Sovereignty
- Data Ethics
- FAIR Data
- Vocabularies and Semantic Interoperability
- Logistical Resource and Information Management
- Modelling and Remote Sensing Data
- Life Science Data
- Data Storytelling
- Ocean Data (see Ocean Data Concurrent Event below)
View the workshop agenda to learn more about CPDW6 speakers, sessions, and activities.
Keynote Speaker
Shari Fox
Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, Ittaq
Knowledge Mobilization and Data Storytelling at the Ittaq Heritage and Research Centre, Clyde River, Nunavut
Ocean Data Concurrent Event
The Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) ran an ocean data focused event concurrent with CPDW6.
CIOOS is Canada’s ocean data system, uniting diverse sectors and partners in providing an open, trusted, and high-quality data platform, tools, and cyberinfrastructure. CIOOS advances interoperable, FAIR- and CARE-aligned ocean data stewardship nationally, while working to strengthen support for Arctic and sub‑Arctic data needs.
This ocean data side event provided a dedicated space during CPDW6 to explore how ocean and coastal data systems can more effectively contribute to, and align with, Canada’s evolving polar data landscape.
Gallery
Further Reading
Below is a collection of links to useful online resources that CPDW6 speakers featured in their presentations.
Knowledge Mobilization and Data Storytelling at the Ittaq Heritage and Research Centre, Clyde River, Nunavut
‣ Ittaq Heritage and Research Centre Facebook page
‣ Ittaq Heritage and Research Centre
‣ Clyde River Knowledge Atlas
‣ Kangiqtugaapik (Clyde River) Weather Station Network
‣ Ittaq Heritage and Research Centre YouTube channel
Review of CPDW5 Calls to Action and CPDW6 Agenda Overview
‣ Report of the 4th Canadian Polar Data Workshop
‣ Canadian Polar Data Consortium
‣ Polar Data Search
International Activities: Results from Polar Data Forum VI
‣ Polar Data Forum
Connecting the Research Ecosystem through the Canadian Research Data Platform
‣ Position paper: Unlocking the Value of Canada’s Research Data
Polar Knowledge Canada
‣ Science and Technology Framework
‣ Grants contact email
‣ Funding programs
Polar Data Catalogue: The Arctic and Antarctic Metadata and Data Repository for Canada
‣ Polar Data Catalogue
‣ Find Metadata and Data (
Facilitating an Integrated Canadian Research Ecosystem using National Data Spaces
‣ IDSA Knowledge Base
‣ National Data Spaces (Digital Research Alliance of Canada)
Supporting the Ocean Data Value Chain: From Observation to Information
‣ CIOOS Data Explorer
‣ CIOOS Atlantic Data Management
‣ Nautilo
Ocean Networks Canada
‣ Ocean Networks Canada Data Portal
Implementing the FAIR Guiding Principles for Oceanographic Data: Lessons Learned from ERDDAP Migration and Pathways to Machine-Actionable Arctic Research
‣ Amundsen Science ERDDAP
Ten Years of facilitating FAIR and Open Water Data with DataStream
‣ Mackenzie DataStream
‣ Watershed Reports
‣ DataStream
International Polar Year 5 – Routine Open, Secure, Ethical Data
‣ IPY-5 Planning Group
‣ IPY5 Data Planning Workshop notes
Pan-Arctic Wetland Inventory
‣ CGDI Resource Centre
‣ Arctic SDI catalogue
‣ Natural Resources Canada Geospatial Web Services
‣ Pan-Arctic Wetland Inventory Dataset Version 1 (baseline) dataset metadata
‣ Pan-Arctic Wetland Inventory Dataset Version 1 (baseline) dataset overview
‣ Responding to User Needs (geo.ca initiative)
Operationalizing Indigenous-led Sea ice Monitoring: A WISER Data-to-Action Framework
‣ SmartICE
OTN: Managing and Mobilising Animal Tracking Data in the Canadian Arctic
‣ Ocean Tracking Network
‣ Animal Borne Ocean Sensors – AniBOS – An Essential Component of the Global Ocean Observing System (review article)
‣ Ocean Tracking Network ERDDAP
‣ Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) mapper
‣ Ocean Tracking Network GeoServer
Informing Canada’s Water Security: Update on the National Freshwater Data Strategy
‣ Framework for the Development of a National Freshwater Data Strategy: Discussion paper
‣ National Freshwater Data Strategy Workshop 2024
‣ Canada Water Agency
The Canadian Peatland Data Portal: A Centralized Place for Canada’s Peatland Carbon Data
‣ Canadian Peatland Data Portal project overview
‣ Canadian Peatland Data Portal
More than Just Storage: Advancing Science Communication and Data Empowerment through Data Repositories
‣ Soper’s World: A Journey into the Canadian Arctic through Art
The Arctic Data Committee – News, Updates, and Future Planning
‣ Arctic Data Committee
‣ SAON survey about data collection
‣ ICARP IV documents and publications 2022–2026
‣ ROADS Advisory Panel
Leveraging Multi-Sensor Remote Sensing and Modelling to Generate Long-Term Environmental Data for Northern Lakes
‣ ReSEC-MAP Monitoring and Analysis Platform
Evaluating Trustworthy Data Repository Characteristics for Canadian Research with the Polar Data Community
‣ Table of characteristics
‣ Community-Driven Guidance: Help Shape Trustworthy Data Repository Characteristics for Canada webinar information
‣ Data Repository Characteristics Working Group: Community Consultation Recruitment
Arctic Data Standards Initiative: Achievements to Date and the Road Ahead
‣ Arctic Research Foundation
Combining People, Software and Research for Data-Driven Storytelling
‣ Inuit Places interactive, multi-media atlas
‣ Isirvik Nunavut Research Portal
‣ Arctic Genomics Knowledge Mobilization Platform
Convener and Hosts
CPDW6 was proudly convened by the Canadian Polar Data Consortium and hosted by the University of Waterloo Climate Institute and the Polar Data Catalogue.
Sponsors
The Planning and Advisory Committees would like to thank the following sponsors of the workshop:
Narwhal ($25,000)
Musk Ox ($10,000)
Snowy Owl ($5,000)
Sessional Sponsor
Keynote Travel Sponsor
