On September 8, Cabox Aspiring Geopark received notice that its formal request for federal and provincial funding to help implement its 2020-2021 development priorities was approved.
The assistance is “to undertake Phase 1 of establishing a world-class geo-tourism product, a Geopark, in the Bay of Islands region of Western Newfoundland. In particular, Cabox Geopark Inc. will engage consultants to: identify, organize, and map significant geological sites in the Corner Brook and Bay of Islands regions; develop a GIS database website; develop a Content Management System (CMS) to enable Cabox to expand its NewfoundlandVR programming for education and tourism organizations across the Province; and develop a Strategic Management Plan, including a sustainable development plan and a partnership plan.”
The request – which totals $88,000 – was submitted with help from Amanda McCallum of Ignite Education Inc., who assisted the Bonavista Peninsula’s Discovery Geopark with their successful funding and UNESCO Global Geopark applications.
Professor Dr. John Waldron of the University of Alberta and Adjunct Professor Dr. Andy Kerr of Memorial University of Newfoundland will help identify, compile and map geological sites of interest within the boundaries of Cabox Aspiring Geopark, which stretches from Lewis Hills in the south to Trout River in the north, and Little Port in the west to lower Humber Valley in the east.
An educational and promotional website will also be developed that identifies, compiles and presents the geological, ecological and sociological features of the Appalachian-Caledonian corridor, from the southeastern United States to Newfoundland, then across the Atlantic Ocean to Greenland, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Norway. Emphasis will be placed on global, regional and local characteristics and the relationship between them.
Work will also begin on the content management system and website for an NL in VR program which films then presents Newfoundland and Labrador scenic vistas in virtual reality, using a 3D headset such as Oculus Rift, and online in the form of WebVR (e.g. https://caboxgeopark.org/virtual-tours/). The program will build on the VR expertise developed during the EU-funded Drifting Apart project which Cabox Aspiring Geopark recently participated in.
