In January, Discovery submitted progress reporting
documents to CCUNESCO for review and transfer to UNESCO and the Global Geoparks
Network in advance of our revalidation mission.
We
had a very busy winter with various planning activities!
Discovery secured project funding for the 2023-2025
period. Thank you to our provincial and federal funding partners, the
Department of Industry, Energy and Technology and the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency for ongoing financial support to the work we do!
In
the spring, Discovery added 4 new public geosites including the Ripples in
Blackhead Bay, the Mudcracks in Duntara (with community residents and the Town
of Kings Cove), Cape Random and Random Passage Site (with Cape Random Trust
Inc.) in New Bonaventure and Capelin Gulch Fossil Site in Melrose (with Peaches
Cove-Green Bay Development Inc.). Thank you to Dr. Rod Taylor, Dr. Duncan McIlroy
and Dr. Jack Matthews for the considerable contributions made to support this
progress.
In April, Ambassador training was delivered by
the MUN Palaeobiology Team for Discovery and led by Dr. Duncan McIlroy. These
sessions help empower local communities to be confident and active stewards of
our geological heritage. Thank you to graduate students Pascal and Nagi for the
beautiful display and casting demonstration, and to Dr. Rod Taylor for his
presentation.
All geosite panels, maps, brochures and
promotional items were updated in the spring in advance of the tourist season,
including beautiful postcards in partnership with Barry Langdon Photography and
a new adventure map with Wreckhouse Creative! Check out the beautiful
interpretive panels at these sites styled by Minke Design.
During the Job Creation Partnership program at the
gateway property in Southern Bay, the former visitor information centre was
removed, information panels were updated, and we promoted a new and exciting
design for the gateway welcome pieces! Stay tuned for progress!
In June, we celebrated Ocean Week Canada from June
2-11 and World Ocean Day on June 8 with a grant from the Canadian Ocean
Literacy Coalition (COLC) to host coastline clean-ups in partnership with local
schools and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. We also hosted a talk at
the Garrick Theatre Annex in Bonavista with Dr. Paul Snelgrove on a Decade of
Ocean Discovery.
Discovery launched a social media campaign in June
highlighting members of the Canadian Geoparks Network to showcase our partner
geoparks (both designated and aspiring) in the country. Check out our social
media channels for incredible photos of UNESCO designates Canadian wonders of
geological heritage!
Our Canadian Geoparks Network national meetings were
held June 23-25 in Perce UNESCO Global Geopark In the beautiful Gaspe region of
Quebec. Discovery looks forward to hosting the national meetings in September
of 2024!
In July, Discovery installed temporary directional
signage and other information panels and maps throughout the region to improve
visibility and wayfinding.
From July 24-28, Discovery hosted two esteemed experts from the Global Geoparks Network for a revalidation mission of Discovery as a UNESCO Global Geopark! Dr. Marie-Luise Frey from Germany and Jean-Simon Pages from France were enamoured with the strength of community support and the incredible geological and natural heritage of the region! Thank you to Manda Maggs, Executive Director of Tumber Ridge Global Geopark in BC for joining us as national observer. Thank you to Dr. Jack Matthews for superb interpretation of our special geological heritage and sites. A special thank you to Renee Paul with the BTRCC and Alicia O’Leary from Legendary Coasts of Eastern Newfoundland for her presentations, extensive logistical support and keen knowledge of global geoparks that ensured a successful mission! A huge thank you to all community partners and friends involved!
In September, we partnered with the MUN Paleobiology
Team and the Bonavista Biennale to host professional exchange, a spectacular
geotour of fossil sites with a casting demonstration, and a talk by Dr. Duncan
McIlroy. We were also happy to enter into an agreement with the Department of
Earth Sciences at Mun formalizing ongoing mutual exchange and partnership.
Three representatives from Discovery attended the 10th International Conference on Global Geoparks in Marrakech, Morocco from September 5-10 and hosted by M’Goun Global Geopark. Two presentations were delivered at the conference. All were safe following a devastating earthquake in the Atlas Mountains.
Also in September, representatives from the region joined other Newfoundland UNESCO designations in Norris Point for a stakeholder engagement session for the Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor, led by CCUNESCO and Destination Canada along with the Fundy Biosphere Region in Nova Scotia.
For the 2nd International Geodiversity
Day on October 6th, we hosted a Sit & Draw community event in
partnership with Union House Arts in Port Union.
We had the pleasure of delivering elementary school
programming to grade 4 students at Catalina Elementary School, St. Mark’s
School in King’s Cove and Bishop White School in Port Rexton during October
with Geologist, Dr. Sumanta Chatterjee. Thank you to Mrs. Miller, Ms. Coffin
and Ms. Keough. We can’t wait to see you all again in the Spring for some
geotours!
A panel discussion at the 3rd Annual Regional Fall Tourism Forum of the BTRCC and STAR Initiative on November 15th focused on the geopark and included a presentation of annual highlights, the UNESCO revalidation mission and the Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor Initiative.
In December, planning sessions were held with
stakeholders and community partners to strategize work to fulfil the
recommendations from UNESCO to prepare for another revalidation mission in
2025.
Discovery also held engagement and partnership
meetings in December with our UNESCO evaluators, Peaches Cove-Green Bay
Development Inc., Charnwood Forest aspiring global geopark in the UK, the
Eastern Geological Network NL, aspiring geoparks of the Canadian Geoparks
Network and hosted a presentation from Michael Teasdale of HoldFastNL Seaweed
Farm with the Municipality Trinity Bay North and other partners.
Wow! From January 1 – December 31, 2023, Discovery’s
social media reach was 69.5k accounts (up 59.8% from 2022) and content
interactions were 5.7k (up 293.9% from 2022).
Check out our social media channels for more details
about our activities, and we look forward to a busy and engaging 2024!
