This list includes some but not all highlights from 2024.
October
Bonavista Biennale welcomes two artists in residence to the Peninsula this fall! Melissa Tremblett and Haruna Sugisaki will each be spending a week at Union House Arts Port Union. During their residencies they will visit sites, connect with community, and envision projects for the 2025 Biennale next summer. The artists will receive introductory Geo Tours around the Peninsula through our residency collaborator, Discovery Global Geopark. Stay tuned for more information on the artists, their time in residence, and public events. These residencies were made possible by funding from Newfoundland and Labrador’s Year of the Arts.
September
Interim Chair Marieke Gow hosted delegates from Ireland attending the 2024 Laurentic Forum on a tour of the Discovery Global Geopark. The focus of the 2024 forum was the creative economy around lighthouses in coastal communities. The visit has resulted in a connection with individuals involved in Ireland’s Global Geoparks and strengthened relationships for future partnerships and information exchanges.
The Canadian Geoparks Network – Réseau des Géoparcs canadiens (CGN) Conference, hosted at the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, was a resounding success! Throughout the event, we explored key topics such as geoheritage, geoconservation, geotourism, and the role Canadian geoparks can play in advancing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.We also had the pleasure of sharing our rich culture and traditions with the delegates, proudly sending many of them home as Honorary Newfoundlanders! A special thanks to MusicNL for their generous support, which enabled us to feature talented local musicians during the conference.This event would not have been possible without the incredible support of our community. A heartfelt thank you to the businesses, residents, and advocates of the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark who helped us showcase the beauty and uniqueness of our region. We are also deeply grateful to the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation for their continued support of the geopark in various ways.We’re excited to build on the momentum of this conference and look forward to what’s ahead for the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark!
A research team led by Drs. Duncan McIlroy and Rod Taylor, Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, discovered the new-to-science organism, Mamsetia manunis, a second species of staurozoan, on the “MUN Surface,” as an area of coastal rock near Port Union, Trinity Bay, is known.
Drs. McIlroy and Taylor, and other researchers involved in the project including Dr. Suzanne Dufour, biology professor and associate dean of Science (undergraduate) studies at Memorial, recently published a paper in Life documenting the organisms in detail.
The discovery of Mamsetia and the reclassification of Haootia represent a leap forward in our understanding of early life.
August
Andrew and Charlie who worked all summer enhancing the Arch Rock Trail, making it safer and more enjoyable for hikers and geology enthusiasts to take in the breathtaking views in Little Catalina, hosted a leisurely walk of the trail.
the Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador Green Team paused their trail development work in Little Catalina to engage with an energetic group of youth from BAYNet. The group eagerly participated in activities centered around climate change and water conservation and showed great enthusiasm during a scavenger hunt designed to deepen their connection with the local natural environment.
July
We had an amazing time on July 12th at the geology-inspired walking tour led by the knowledgeable geologist Paul Dean! This adventure took us through the the Random Passage Site (White Point) and New Bonaventure, revealing the natural beauty and some of the geological wonders found within our UNESCO Global Geopark.Thank you to everyone who joined us for this hike, and special thanks to Random Passage Site for organizing this invigorating event! Keep an eye to the Random Passage Site’s social media channels as they have events planned all summer long!
June
Before the start of summer break, students from Matthew Elementary had an unforgettable adventure touring the stunning geological sites of Bonavista with knowledgeable geologist, Paul Dean. Their journey included exploring the impressive armour stones at the harbour breakwater, discovering the fascinating stratigraphy at Cape Bonavista, visiting the breathtaking Dungeon geosite, and marveling at the Chimney geosite in Spillars Cove! This marks the last school group visit for the 2023-2024 school year, and what an incredible way to wrap it up!Our school tours play a vital role in contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education. By immersing students in hands-on, experiential learning, we foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of our planet’s geological wonders. These experiences inspire young minds, promote geopark stewardship, and cultivate a lifelong love of learning. Thank you to all the students and educators who joined us this year. We can’t wait to continue this journey of discovery and education in the next school year!
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide and drive our efforts. SDG #17, Partnerships for the Goals, offers us unique opportunities to build lasting relationships that enhance our collective impact on tackling the planet’s most pressing challenges at the local level. In June we launched our summer Conservation Corps Newfoundland and Labrador Green Team program with an exciting training session at the Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation Inc. We were honored to have Dr Duncan McIlroy and the MUNPaleobiology team join us for a day dedicated to the conservation and protection of our internationally significant geological heritage. The event featured an insightful presentation, a fossil cast display, and a casting demonstration by graduate students, Pascal and Nagi, followed by a scenic hike to Arch Rock in Little Catalina, led by Dr McIlroy. We were also delighted to have local heritage expert and storyteller Don Johnson with us! This was the launch of our Green Team working on developing the Arch Rock Trail, preparing it for its debut as a public geosite, in collaboration with our project partners at the Municipality of Trinity Bay North – TBN News and Views .
we had the honour and pleasure of hosting Yves-Gérard Méhou-Loko, Secretary General of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO / Commission canadienne pour l’UNESCO for a wonderful afternoon touring some of our spectacular coastal geosites, accompanied by Dale Jarvis from Heritage NL and Geologist Paul Dean. On behalf of community partners and the Board of Directors, we thank you for the opportunity to show you just some of the natural wonders of this magical place. We hope to see you again soon! Thank you to Marlene Russell and the staff at Cape Bonavista Lighthouse and Provincial Historic Site for the warm welcome! A special thank you to Town Of Trinity Mayor, Paul Stapleton, for hosting a lovely reception with the interim board of directors and invited guests and to Trinity Cabins for the delicious food! Thank you also to The Quintal Cafe & Bistro for an amazing lunch to start our afternoon.
June 18 was a glorious morning to spend touring geological sites in Bonavista with geologist Paul Dean and students from Discovery Collegiate! We visited the Armour stones at the harbour breakwater, the incredible stratigraphy at Cape Bonavista, the Dungeon geosite and the Chimney geosite in Spillars Cove. Thank you to the students for the amazing enthusiasm and great questions, and to the teachers and staff that helped make this fieldtrip possible.
On June 12 we had a fantastic day touring our Mudcracks and Devil’s Footprints geosites with Paul Dean and the students from St. Marks School in Historic King’s Cove. We even made our own impressions using modeling clay! A special thank you to the school staff for helping to coordinate this special fieldtrip, and for joining us. We’re looking forward to more adventures together!
May
On May 16 Destination Canada announced it’s new strategy to set Canada up to become a global leader in Tourism by 2030. To learn more about Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark’s role in this exciting strategy, visit this link on Destination Canada’s Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor Pilot. The Board of Destination Canada and President & CEO Marsha Walden visited the Discovery Global Geopark in May and met with our Interim Board of Directors along with other key contributors to our region.
It was an illuminating afternoon on May 10th thanks to the incredible David Saunders from Parks Canada and Fishers’ Loft Inn! We are so grateful to David for shedding light on the importance of preserving our night skies. From the wonders of Terra Nova National Park, Parks Canada‘s Dark Sky Preserve to the magic of stargazing, it was a truly stellar experience!
Thank you, Legendary Coasts of Eastern Newfoundland for inviting Rebecca, Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark director, to speak at yesterday’s open house for the region! Rebecca had the pleasure of sharing the story of the geopark and how tourism based businesses can engage with us. It was fantastic to hear from Steve Denty from the St. John’s International Airport Authority as well. Together, we’re shaping unforgettable experiences for travellers visiting our geopark from around the world!
UNESCO Global Geoparks, as grassroots initiatives, thrive on the support of the communities within their boundaries. Recently, the students at Discovery Collegiate in Town of Bonavista exemplified this spirit by organizing and executing an Earth Day cleanup, providing fantastic support to environmental conservation efforts. Their dedication not only demonstrates their commitment to preserving our planet but also highlights the power of youth engagement in local activities. Their infectious enthusiasm serves as an inspiring example, showcasing how every individual can make a meaningful difference in their community and contribute to the conservation and beautification of the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark. A huge thank you to the students and staff of Discovery Collegiate! We are looking forward to future collaborations!
April
Rebecca, director of the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, had a fantastic day of networking and engaging in constructive conservations at the Bonavista – Trinity Regional Chamber of Commerce‘s Strategic Tourism for Areas and Regions Refresh session! The geopark is a remarkable asset for tourism operators, municipalities, and residents of this area who are passionate about the sustainable development of our region.
The Discovery UNESCO Geopark found itself in the path of totality during the total eclipse of the sun. The Geopark raised funds for the organization while also promoting a safe eclipse experience by selling 500 solar eclipse glasses to members of our community.
March
In March, Marieke Gow of the Discovery Geopark Board of Directors spent 1 week in Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark on the island of Bohol. While the trip was independently financed, after reaching out to staff at the Bohol Geopark office, Marieke was connected with staff from the municipality of Alicia, where a number of geosites are located. They generously provided two nights of accommodation so Marieke could visit their geosites. In addition to providing accommodations, municipal staff provided transportation to various geosites including the Alicia Schist, the oldest rock identified in Bohol, The Alicia Panoramic Park which features the breathtaking landscape of Binabaje Hills of Bgy and Princess Manan-aw Cave which is just one of the more than 20 caves in the Cagongcagong Cave System located in Bgy. The mayor and municipal staff of Alicia met with Marieke to discuss the importance of UNESCO Global Geoparks and the opportunities they present for global connectivity and also joined her as she toured their geosites and engaged in conversations with community members about the opportunities the designation had presented to their region. Bohol Geopark shares many commonalities with Discovery Geopark and we look forward to exploring ways to partner in the future.
February
In February, Rebecca, Director of Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark, was honoured to attend an informative workshop on Geoparks and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) organized by the GGN Working Group on SDGs. With over 300 participants from the 195 UNESCO Global Geoparks, UNESCO, and aspiring geoparks, it was an inspiring session encouraging conscientious development. We were particularly proud to see Dr Jennifer Dingman from Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark present on the Atlantic Canada UNESCO Tourism Corridor. This initiative is led in partnership by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Fundy Biosphere Region, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Parks Canada, and Destination Canada. The initiative’s strategy aims to cultivate innovation and increase visitation through regenerative, experiential, and authentic approaches to tourism within and between the all 13 UNESCO designated sites in Atlantic Canada, aligning with the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and UNESCO priorities.
