UNESCO Geopark provides 'great' opportunities for north Simcoe

By 2027, Georgian Bay could be host to the world’s largest UNESCO Geopark if regional organizers have their way.

The push to encourage residents to become informed about the Georgian Bay Geopark Network may have gained momentum due to a recent presentation at La Clé in Penetanguishene, where more than 30 attendees heard about the grassroots initiative.

Hosted by the Penetanguishene Rotary Club, a half-hour description was given by Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark executive director Tony Pigott, one of 25 volunteers within the not-for-profit group.

“I think this is an important moment, because the opportunities for Penetanguishene and the region are great,” Pigott told Village Media. “A geopark is a really unique designation, so I think people are going to be excited to learn more about how we're progressing and what it can do for the community.”

Founded in 1945, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a post-war organization dedicated to sustainable development goals resulting in peace through international co-operation.

A geopark is a unified geographic area where sites and landscapes of geological significance are managed through conservation and local communities to promote protection, education, and sustainable development. There are currently five Global GeoParks within Canada, and 213 across 48 countries worldwide.

The presentation was both a condensed and updated version of the larger presentation that had filled the Midland Cultural Centre two years prior, and which had visited regional council meetings since.

Pigott introduced the crowd to the past 13,000 years of history in Georgian Bay including its waterways and tributaries reaching up to Sault Ste. Marie, amounting to eight distinct shores.

“The area of the geopark is 48,000 square kilometres,” Pigott said. “That is larger than Vancouver Island, and it would be bigger than any UNESCO Geopark in the world. Some people have been known to say that we're crazy to try this, but the reality is Georgian Bay is one region; it shares water and so much history and culture that the opportunity is to create a framework for the entire region.”

Citing LIDAR images from recent drone usage by the group, Pigott was able to demonstrate topographical and archaeological information about Christian Island, including “the foundations of the Jesuits' last building that was created there in 1650 before they went to Montreal.”

If successful in their bid, Pigott stated that geo-tourism would bring large visitors from around the world with a 2027 UNESCO designation.

“There is no place in Canada where (the emerging community, history and culture) is more dramatically demonstrated than right here in Georgian Bay, and personally I think Penetanguishene is the epicentre of that narrative,” said Pigott.

Questions were taken from the attendees. One person shared a concern of potential negative influx from visitors on the area, with Pigott replying that with a UNESCO designation a more appreciative class of tourist would be the target visitors.

Another question regarded how a geopark designation would be leveraged for land-use issues.

“There are no legal capacities of a UNESCO Geopark to stop anything to affect land rights; it is simply not an active player in that regard,” Pigott said. “It's not going to fundamentally interrupt or get in the way of what a municipality is trying to do. It may – because of the research and the fact that UNESCO has recognized us as special – it may give communities pause about the kind of development they do want to do.”

Sunnyside neighbourhood resident Graham Scrimgeour asked what the cost would be for the taxpayers, with Pigott reiterating that the group was a not-for-profit raising money from private donors, as well as having received an initial development grant from Simcoe County. The group received a $67,000 Trebek Initiative grant last year.

Following the meeting, Village Media asked Scrimgeour what he thought of the presentation.

“I thought it was a very positive and complete explanation of what sounds like a really progressive and mutual benefit to all residents of the Georgian Bay region,” said Scrimgeour. “I was very impressed.”

The Georgian Bay Geopark Network is requesting input from individuals, organizations, and businesses on the initiative, with interested parties encouraged to visit the project website.