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.
Geopark Reps Attend Drifting Apart Meeting
On February 25, 2018, representatives of the IATNL and Outer Bay of Islands Enhancement Committee (OBIEC) traveled to Iceland to attend the final meeting of the 3-year EU Northern Periphery and Arctic Programme funded Drifting Apart project. They were representing Cabox Aspiring Geopark. The two-day event began the evening of February 26 with a reception at Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark Visitor Center, with special guest Ms Eliza Reid, First Lady of Iceland.
IATNL Commemorates James Cook Survey
During summer 2017, the International Appalachian Trail Newfoundland & Labrador in conjunction with Cabox Aspiring Geopark is commemorating the 250th Anniversary of British navigator, surveyor, cartographer and explorer James Cook’s survey of Western Newfoundland, his fifth and final year of Newfoundland surveys and tenth and final year in Eastern Canada. Commemorations include three new indoor exhibits and the re-designation of two trails on the south side of the Bay of Islands and began on June 21 with an official launch at the Corner Brook Museum and Archives, which has a permanent exhibit dedicated to Cook.
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.
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”.
1000 People Attend IAT Portugal Launch in Naturtejo Geopark
On a sunny and warm Saturday, March 28, 2015, approximately one thousand people gathered in Naturtejo Geopark, Portugal to officially launch GR38 – Grande Roto Do Muradal-Pangeia as the newest section of the Trilho Internacional dos Apalaches. Joining the crowd were Geopark President Armindo Jacinto, Oleiros Municipal President Fernando Marques Jorge, Turismo Centro Portugal President Pedro Machado, Naturtejo Geopark Geologist and IAT Portugal President Carlos Carvalho, Canadian Counsellor and Consul David Marion, IAT Chairperson Paul Wylezol and IAT Spain President Ruth Hernandez.