When J.B. Hall died in 1928, $25 ,000 from his estate was placed in a Trust Fund to be used to start a Vocational School in Annapolis County. Over time , the fund grew and around 1961, using $80,000 from the Hall legacy, the new Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute (NSLSI) building was built in Lawrencetown. This building was home to the NSLSI until 1975, before moving to the much larger facility on Elliot Road. The building still exists today, and is used as the Annapolis County Planning Services building.

In 1960, new courses specializing in photogrammetry were offered and then courses in cartography was added the next year. Around the same time, GIS technology was developed by Dr. Roger Tomlinson, who had a great interest in seeing that specialized training programs were established that could use this technology, that eventually led him to be a mentor and advocate for COGS.

Click here to open up an interesting Story Map that shows some of the history behind COGS and the lives of its founders, Major James A.H. Church and James B. Hall …

It was during the 70s and 80s when the School became synonymous with Geomatics training excellence nationally and internationally.

By late 1970’s, Instructors began to realize the need for computer programmers in the scientific and engineering fields; in part this awareness stemmed from the increased use of the computer in surveying. Changes like this allowed the NSLSI to become synonymous with excellence in Geomatics both nationally and world wide.

By the mid 80’s it became apparent that a new brand was needed to accurately describe the broadened training programs. The acronym COGS was easy to pronounce and, as influenced by Dr. Tomlinson, so the College of Geographic Sciences’, the new identity was proclaimed in Provincial Legislation in 1986. The acronym, COGS became recognized internationally and graduates are keenly sought by government agencies and commercial enterprises around the world.

“Work hard, keep up with modern development, give your client his dollar’s worth, and enjoy the better things in life.” James A. H. Church

Graduates of COGS programs can be found employed all over the world thanks to the hard working ethics that Church established into the early programs that provided students with hands on real world situations.

Check out this online map by Dave MacLean (GIS instructor at COGS known for creating online maps for astronauts like Chris Hadfield) of Where COGS Grads are Now (if you are a COGS Alumni and not included then add your location) as Dave tries to capture a geographical picture of the spatial extent that COGS influences.

The education programs offered at COGS has evolved and changed drastically over the years, however COGS has maintained an international reputation for the ability to design, develop and deliver high quality technical professionals that continue to populate the geospatial community.