Prasamsa Thapa gets to enjoy her passion for geography every day.
As geographic information system (GIS) specialist with the City of Airdrie, Thapa is responsible for creating geospatial data and analyzing it to aid decisions for Airdrie council, infrastructure and emergency services.
“It is a fulfilling journey where my passion for geography and technology converges to shape a better tomorrow,” says Thapa.
“GIS truly does so much. For example, I can help plan where the next fire station could go and how quickly they can respond to certain locations in a crisis. The satisfaction derived from seeing the direct impact of spatial analyses on critical decision-making processes is immeasurable.”
Thapa started her career in her home country of Nepal before moving to Canada to finish her degree at the University of Calgary. Over her career, Thapa has worked with the Canadian federal government, NASA and also inspired young mappers as a featured speaker on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Thapa is also a member of the Calgary Nepalese Community Association where she has volunteered for various outreach programs, led cultural dance workshops and fundraised when a massive earthquake hit her home country in 2015.
“Thapa inspires those around her to reach greater heights,” says nominator and colleague Saroat Ramjan.
“Her exemplary work sets a high standard for all employees. Prasamsa is not just an asset to our organization, but a role model for what an employee should aspire to be.”