Georgian Bay is under threat.
The Aspiring Geopark will flood it with millions of tourists.
tHE ASPIRING GEOPARK HAS NO PLANS TO PROTECT GEORGIAN BAY.
It is trying to claim all of Georgian Bay to promote it globally as a tourism destination.
“Licking their chops?” – direct quote.
That’s what predators do.
Watch excerpts from the Midland council meetings outlining their plan.
On September 15, 2021, Tony Pigott, current Executive Director of the Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark, presented the findings from the Geopark feasibility study, which he was paid $50,000 to undertake.
On May 3, 2023, Tony Pigott presented an update to Midland Council, announcing that they had secured aspiring Geopark status. Midland Mayor Bill Gordon reinforce that the Geopark was a North Simcoe initiative.
What should concern you most? For starters:
The plan is to use North Simcoe as the launching point to send millions of visitors onto Georgian Bay.
“This is really a North Simcoe initiative, and when I think about the four, arguably five when I think about Southern Georgian Bay Township, we’re all in this together as the launching point for the Geopark for visitors, so we all stand to gain immensely from the international clout we’ll get from being a geopark and as a launching point from our municipalities. – Midland Mayor Bill Gordon
Our assessment boils down to three points. All three points are supported by statements made by the Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark Executive Director – you heard them in the video.
“They (geoparks) are a proven tourism and business generator.”
“We believe that Midland North Simcoe area is a genuine portal of deep time and a microcosm of the entire Georgian Bay Geopark.“
“North Simcoe can be the gateway to the UNESCO Geopark and the place that people go to first, being adjacent as you are to four million people.”
In a December 2024 meeting with the Geopark Leadership Team, more concerning information was shared.
They are on record stating “Mass tourism is going to take place in Georgian Bay.”
Yet they do not have a written tourism plan.
They will not be managing any of the destinations they are promoting.
They take no accountability for the costs or impact. They seem to think a “visitor pledge” will protect Georgian Bay.
They are on record stating “We are not a conservation organization.”
Sensitive habitats, endangered species, the aquatic ecosystem and mitigating pollution is not on their radar.
Their plan is to for the managers of the destinations to work that out.
The sites with no on-site managers managers are out of luck.
They are on record stating “Cottagers are tourists.”
Cottagers and residents have been dismissed as stakeholders.
Tourism organizations are given top priority, specifically those that are potential sources of funding, such as Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Destination Northern Ontario, RTO7 covering Saugeen and Southern Georgian Bay, and RTO 13 on the Eastern side.
Want to Learn More? Read our Blog
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