About Us

Our Mission

Advancing Open Government and Open Data principles for the well-being of our communities.

2013 - Inaugural Conference

The inaugural GO Open Data Conference launched on May 11, 2013, in Kitchener. Sparked by an idea from web developer Albert O’Connor, the event was brought to life by a dedicated volunteer committee representing the City and Region of Waterloo, the University of Waterloo, and civil society advocates.

Our History

2014 - A Turning Point

Following its 2013 debut, GO Open Data (GOOD) officially became an annual event in 2014. Co-chaired by Jury Konga and Trish Garner, the Toronto conference introduced a landmark two-day format featuring a dedicated hackathon. With over 350 diverse participants, the event set the gold standard for future GOOD conferences and cross-sector community engagement.

2019 - GOOD Association Formed

In 2019, GO Open Data transitioned from a volunteer committee to a federal non-profit to better manage our growing national impact. This evolution allowed us to move beyond an annual conference, launching 'GOOD v2.0' in 2021 - a formalized association dedicated to year-round programming, community feedback, and open-data advocacy.