On November 28, 2016, the 4th general meeting of Cabox Aspiring Geopark was held at the Atrium of Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland in Corner Brook. In addition to updates on the past year’s developments and a preview of next year’s Canada 150/Cook 250 celebration, Grenfell History Professor Olaf Janzen gave a presentation on James Cook in Newfoundland. The meeting began with a presentation on the geology of Eastern Canada and Western Newfoundland by Alana Hinchey, Senior Geologist with the Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey, partner in the EU Interreg funded Drifting Apart project.
Work Continues on Base Camp at Back Cove, North Arm, Bay of Islands
During the spring, summer and fall of 2016, work continued on the IATNL hiking base camp at Back Cove on the north shore of North Arm, Bay of Islands. The two storey camp is well positioned to serve as the start or finish for a 2-3 day trek across the North Arm Hills to or from Trout River Pond in Gros Morne National Park and will serve as an intersecting point for the north and south halves of the planned Cabox Geopark. Restoration began June 4-6, when the IATNL’s Paul Wylezol, Arne Helgeland, Kevin Noseworthy and Caroline Swan were joined by Go Western’s Executive Director Mark Lamswood.
7th International UNESCO Geoparks Conference
On September 27-30, 2016, IATNL / Cabox Aspiring Geopark Chairperson Paul Wylezol attended the 7th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks at Torquay, England, where he learned more about the UNESCO Global Geopark programme and gave a presentation on next year’s 250th Anniversary of James Cook completing his surveys of Western Newfoundland and Eastern Canada. The conference began with an icebreaker reception at Torre Abbey’s Spanish Barn, which held 397 prisoners from Spanish Armada ships wrecked off the coast of southern England in 1588.
Cabox Geopark Chairperson Presents at UK’s Captain Cook Museums
On September 16 & 17, 2016, IAT and Cabox Geopark Chairperson Paul Wylezol was in England visiting the Captain Cook Memorial Museum in Whitby and Captain Cook Birthplace Museum in Marton. While there he gave a presentation on the 250th Anniversary of James Cook completing his surveys in Eastern Canada, most noteably in Newfoundland. In the coming years, James Cook 250 will be a unique opportunity for the IAT and partner UK National Trails to promote their natural and cultural heritage across the North Atlantic and South Pacific.
UK Earth Heritage Magazine Features Cabox Aspiring Geopark in 2016 Issue
The Spring 2016 Issue of Earth Heritage Magazine features their first story on the IAT and Cabox Aspiring Geopark. The magazine, which is produced by Natural England, Scottish Natural Heritage, Natural Resources Wales and the Geologists’ Association, is published twice yearly to stimulate interest in geodiversity and a broad range of geological and landscape conservation issues within the UK and elsewhere. Check out Cabox Aspiring Geopark in the 45th issue.
Third General Meeting of Aspiring Geopark
The 3rd general meeting of Cabox Aspiring Geopark was held March 4, 2016 at Memorial University’s Grenfell Campus in Corner Brook, with approximately 40 people in attendance. In addition to updates on the past year’s developments and a review of the upcoming application process, MUN Geologist Andy Kerr gave a special presentation entitled ‘Newfoundland, the Bay of Islands, and the Geological Revolution’. IAT / Cabox Aspiring Geopark Chairperson Paul Wylezol outlined the GeoSite categories, beginning with five geological groupings: Ancient Continental Slope, Transported Continental Margin, Bay of Islands Ophiolite Complex, Little Port Island Arc Complex, and Carboniferous Cover Rocks of the Deer Lake Basin.
IAT/Cabox Presentation at GAC Annual Meeting
On February 22-23, 2016, IAT/Cabox Aspiring Geopark Chairperson Paul Wylezol attended the Geological Association of Canada Annual Technical Meeting at the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John’s, where he gave a presentation on the International Appalachian Trail, UNESCO Global Geoparks and Cabox Aspiring Geopark in Western Newfoundland. The two-day meeting was attended by approximately 60 people and included presentations on a wide variety of geological subjects, from MUN Earth Science students to the Newfoundland & Labrador Geological Survey and industry representatives.
IAT Presents at European Geopark Conference
On Sept 3-5, 2015, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol attended the European Geoparks Conference in Oulu, Finland, where he gave a presentation on the IAT and its connection to Global Geoparks. The 3-day event was attended by over 400 representatives and concluded with an announcement that Global Geoparks is expected to become a full UNESCO designation during its 38th General Conference in November. The IAT crosses 12 Global Geoparks and Aspiring Geoparks in Canada, Western Europe and Morocco.
In Search of an Elephant Trail
On June 15, 2015, IAT long distance hiker Diane Arnold from Connecticut, USA joined IAT/IATNL Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IATNL Finance Director Kevin Noseworthy on an exploratory hike to the top of the Elephant at the southwest corner of Trout River Inner Pond, above the narrows. The goal was to find a new trail route on/off the mountains as part of the third stage of the IAT UltramaTrex across the Bay of Islands Ophiolites, from Lewis Hills to Tablelands.
A Spring Tour of IAT Spain and Geoparque Villuercas Ibores Jara
On March 29, 2015, the day after participating in the official launch of IAT Portugal at Naturtejo Geopark, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IAT Spain President Ruth Hernandez crossed the Ebro River into Extremadura to take a three day tour of IAT Spain. From there they traveled a short distance to Alcántara, where the world’s largest Roman bridge at 194m long and 71m high, crosses the Tagus River at the eastern end of the 25,088 hectare Tagus International Nature Park. Alcántara is derived from the Arabic word al-QanTarah, meaning “the bridge”.
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