On June 4-5, 2018, the first national workshop of the Canadian Geoparks Network took place in Ottawa. The event was held at the Canadian Council for the Arts and included representatives from UNESCO Global Geoparks and Aspiring Geoparks across Canada, including Cabox. Special guest was Patrick McKeever, UNESCO Chief of Section at the Global Earth Observation division and Secretary of the International Geoscience Programme, including UNESCO Global Geoparks.
HOME OF THE CANADIAN COUNCIL OF THE ARTS ON ELGIN STREET, OTTAWA
Cabox Aspiring Geopark was represented by the IATNL’s Paul Wylezol and Arne Helgeland, who took advantage of an early arrival to tour downtown Ottawa.
Arne Helgeland stands in front of the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill
View of the Ottawa River and Rideau Canal from Parliament Hill
Workshop attendees stayed at the nearby Lord Elgin Hotel, which purchased Canada Patriot Buntings from Cabox as a fundraiser.
Arne Helgeland at Confederation Park opposite Lord Elgin Hotel
Canada Patriot Buntings at Lord Elgin Hotel
The workshop began with welcome and opening presentation by Sébastien Goupil & Eleanor Haine-Bennett of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO
Eleanor Haine-Bennett of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO giving the opening presentation
and a presentation on the history and development of Canadian Geoparks by Godfrey Nowlan, Chair of the Canadian National Committee.
Godfrey Nowlan, Chair of the Canadian National Committee of Global Geoparks, gives a presentation on Canadian Geoparks
There are currently 3 Geoparks (Stonehammer in New Brunswick, Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia, and Percé in Quebec) and 9 Aspiring Geoparks in Canada, including 2 (Cabox and the Bonavista Peninsula’s Discovery) in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Location of the nine Aspiring Geoparks in Canada
Godfrey outlined the process and stages of becoming a Global Geopark and identified a number of future Canadian Geopark Network (CGN) initiatives.
Godfrey also introduced Dr. Nickolas Zouros, President of the Global Geopark Network, who gave a remote presentation on the Global Geopark Network.
Godfrey Nowlan introduces Dr Nickolas Zouros, President of the GGN
Dr Zouros was followed by Patrick McKeever, who discussed the various UNESCO designations and the role played by Global Geoparks.
Patrick McKeever, UNESCO Chief of Section at the Global Earth Observation division and Secretary of the International Geoscience Programme, discusses the UNESCO Global Geopark programme
Cabox’s Wylezol first met Mr McKeever when the British Geological Survey invited the International Appalachian Trail (IAT) to the UK and Ireland in 2009. Patrick, who was the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland (GSNI) Principal Geologist, gave representatives of the IAT a tour of Northern Ireland.
Patrick McKeever (second from left) and Paul Wylezol (second from right) at St Patrick’s tomb in Northern Ireland (June 2009)
After the official formalities and VIP presentations, Canadian geologists and geoparks spent the rest of the workshop giving presentations on the development of geoparks in Canada and various special projects. John Calder of Cliffs of Fundy Aspiring Geopark in Nova Scotia discussed his two book projects, including the recently completed Island at the Center of the World about Prince Edward Island.
And of course a gathering is not complete without the group dinners at local restaurants!
