It’s a day of celebration on the Bonavista Peninsula.
Rock dating back to more than half a billion years, and some of the best-preserved Ediacaran fossils in the world have earned a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Geopark designation for the region.
The announcement came early Friday, July 10, from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the Canadian Geoparks Network, following the decision made at a UNESCO meeting in Paris.
Discovery is now amongst a short list of five Global Geoparks in North America.
John Norman, Chair of Discovery Geopark’s Board of Directors, said in a press release, “The Board of Discovery expresses their deepest thanks to all those who have supported our efforts over this time and we look forward to continuing to work with everyone as we now move together after designation to promote our Geopark area as a destination."
This designation, Norman added, will mean extra potential for the region’s tourism industry for the future, once travel ramps up again in a post-COVID world.
“This … has far reaching benefits for our tourism industry (private and not-for-profit) and municipalities, and will especially be true for recovering our local economy both financially and in terms of creating new and sustainable employment in post-COVID.”
The announcement is the reward for 13 years of commitment by local community leaders and volunteers.
Norman noted the founding groups that took the first steps for designation, The Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation, Tourism Elliston, Trinity Historical Society and King’s Cove Historical Society.
Spent last weekend exploring the #Bonavista Peninsula; this sedimentary rock formation at Brook Point, King's Cove, is part of the newly designated #UNESCO Discovery Geopark, one of only 5 Geoparks in #Canada. @DiscoveryGEONL @UNESCO @YourMorning @a_brauweiler @EddieSheerr pic.twitter.com/A6vTeYU3bq
— Heidi Coombs, PhD (@HeidiCoombsPhD) July 7, 2020
He also lauded Dr. Sean O’Brien, former senior geologist with the province, who planted the seed for the Geopark.
The Discovery group was also helped along the way by local towns and businesses, staff at the Geological Survey, Department of Natural Resources, and paleontological researchers from Cambridge, Oxford, and Memorial Universities.
Funding came from the province’s tourism department and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).
Discovery was one of two Atlantic Canadian geoparks to receive UNESCO designation Friday.
The Cliffs of Fundy, with more than 40 geosites across 125 km, where you can find Canada’s oldest dinosaur fossils, also received designation.
"Becoming a UNESCO Global Geopark is a tremendous achievement—international recognition that is very prestigious and difficult to obtain,” said Liette Vasseur, President, and Sébastien Goupil, Secretary-General, Canadian Commission for UNESCO, in a press release. “We salute the efforts of those who have worked relentlessly over the years to champion the nominations for the Cliffs of Fundy and Discovery, two remarkably beautiful sites.”
Geoparks are sites recognized by UNESCO for their exceptional geological heritage. Being designated a Geopark means having the ability, and working with local stakeholders, to preserve unique geological sites and educate visitors about them. “Geoparks also play a leading role in fostering high quality, sustainable tourism and contributing to the vitality of local economies,” noted the press release from the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.
Discovery was one of 16 other applicants approved for UNESCO Global Geopark status at the France conference.
The Global Geoparks Network now includes 161 sites in 44 countries.
Jim Miller, treasurer of the Discovery Geopark, said in an email, “Our region has had many successes over the years and has been recognized by many government agencies and departments, educational institutions and scholars for coming together as a region to achieve great things.
“Today we have another reason to be proud of our area. We did this together with lots of help for which we are truly appreciative.”
The Global Geoparks Network now includes 161 sites in 44 countries.
An achievement of this magnitude for the Bonavista region would normally mean a celebratory gathering, to mark the occasion and thank those who contributed.
In the time of COVID, however, that’s not possible.
So the party is on hold, for now.
“We look forward to holding a regional celebration in the future when it is safe to do,” said Norman.
