Peter Hettstedt: Mapping Meaning and Building Community in a Changing World

When Peter Hettstedt tells people he works in GIS, their eyes often glaze over—until he explains how location-based data shapes everything from disaster response to transit systems. “It’s a very powerful way of understanding the geographic context of whatever you’re looking at,” he says.

For Peter, the power of maps isn't abstract. It’s personal. As a child, he pored over his father’s National Geographic magazines, tracing place names and unfolding map inserts with curiosity. That early fascination evolved into a geography degree, then a global career—from measuring permafrost in the Yukon to seismic surveys across Africa and the Middle East.

“It feels like my career path chose me, not the other way around,” he reflects. “But I’ve always embraced interesting opportunities when they present themselves.”

Eventually, Peter returned to Canada, where his fieldwork gave way to leadership roles in mapping and surveying firms. He helped build major infrastructure projects—Union Station in Toronto, Highway 407, even offshore rigs in Newfoundland. But what mattered most, he says, wasn’t just helping companies succeed. It was building something bigger: a thriving GIS community.

That’s where his work with BeSpatial Ontario comes in. As past president of the non-profit, Peter has helped transform a professional network into a vital resource for education, ethics, and empowerment. “What I really came to appreciate in my work with BeSpatial is that we’re benefiting a whole community,” he says. “Individuals across the province—and even outside it.”

Behind the scenes, that impact takes real tenacity. Peter describes the effort of staging events, webinars, and conferences with an all-volunteer team—coordinating speakers, training moderators, securing sponsors. “We’re all busy,” he admits, “but we hold each other accountable. We believe in this.”

And it hasn’t been without setbacks. In a moment of quiet honesty, Peter shared that he recently stepped down from his role a year early due to a preclinical Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The news was unexpected, but his approach remains grounded and generous.

“I’m lucky I found out early,” he says. “Mentioning this here is really my way of helping to raise awareness… If you’re getting forgetful, reach out. There are great programs available.”

Thanks to a strong succession plan and an even stronger team, Peter has stayed involved as past president, continuing to mentor and advocate for the next generation. His call to action is simple: show up, speak out, build together.

“The power to enact change within our industry rests with each and every one of us,” he says. “There’s no better way to support the profession than by joining a community of like-minded individuals.”