The Smart Great Lakes Initiative (SGLi) will be hosting a two-day workshop on
February 18 and 19, 2026 in Burlington, Ontario.
Partners from across the Great Lakes will convene for a two-day workshop to shape the next phase of the Smart Great Lakes Initiative (SGLi 2.0). The meeting will establish a shared purpose for SGLi 2.0 and examine the major forces reshaping Great Lakes observing and information systems. Sessions will feature emerging applications of AI and machine learning, novel technologies for data collection and management to inform decision making, and the growing emphasis on “responsible AI” across federal and provincial agencies. Participants will also explore how the landscape of data providers and users is evolving—and what new gaps, needs, and opportunities this creates for future Great Lakes information services.
Together, these conversations will inform a renewed vision for the initiative and its Common Strategy and guide the priorities, partnerships, and investments to promote action for SGLi 2.0 in the years ahead.
Workshop registration is now open!
Please make sure to register before February 13, 2026
The workshop agenda will be added to this page as it becomes available.