There is widespread opposition to the Geopark.

11 OPPOSING MUNICIPALITIES

Open accordions to read letters and motions of opposition

June 4, 2025 – Gore Bay is ‘strongly opposed’ to Georgian Bay Geopark suggestion –“Council passed a resolution that Gore Bay does not support the Georgian Bay Geopark, and council directs staff to advise that the town is strongly opposed and demand Manitoulin Island be removed as the Island has not been consulted regarding this.“

August 29, 2025 – The Township of NorthEastern Manitoulin and the Islands passes motion opposing the Geopark and issue letter of opposition: “we have no desire to be included in the proposed Georgian Bay Geopark” and “remove Manitoulin lsland from the application for the Georgian Bay”.

October 15, 2025 – The Town of Billings passes a motion of opposition. “We are all in agreement that we don’t support the geopark proposal,”

December 10, 2025 – All 9 Manitoulin Municipality Association Members Say “No” to the Geopark “MMA members were in opposition to having a meeting with the Geopark proponents. The municipalities had indicated previously that the lack of consultation, the potential for unsustainable tourism and a diversion of public funds were among their concerns and reason for opposing the proposal.”

September 23, 2025 – The Archipelago opposes development of UNESCO Geopark in Georgian Bay “As steward of approximately 26% of the total shoreline of Georgian Bay, The Archipelago places the highest priority on conservation, planning, and sustainable management.”

“The Archipelago does not support its inclusion within the boundaries of the proposed Georgian Bay Geopark and requests to be removed from all maps, plans, and promotional materials related to this initiative,” reads a letter passed by council Sept. 19.”

read letter & read motion by council

August 13, 2025 – “BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby directs the Mayor to issue a formal letter of opposition to the Canadian Geoparks Network and UNESCO regarding the Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark;” “AND THAT the letter request the removal of Manitoulin Island and the North Shore from the proposed area of inclusion”

read motion by council

8 OPPOSING FIRST NATIONS

Open accordions to read letters and motions of opposition

July 28, 2025 – “UCCMM Tribal Council represents the interests of Aundeck Omni Kaning, M’Chigeeng, Sheguindah, Sheshegwaning, Whitefish River and Zhiibaahaasin First Nations on Manitoulin Island.”

“We the United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising do not consent to the Aspiring UNESCO Georgian Bay Geopark and demand that Manitoulin Island be removed from this proposal.”

read letter

February 5, 2026 – “Wasauksing First Nation does not wish to be included in the proposed Georgian Bay Geopark.”

“I respectfully request that Wasauksing and our traditional territory be removed from the Georgian Bay Geopark application.”

Read letter

December 15, 2025 – “Mississauga First Nation does not consent to the use of our cultural heritage, in whole or in part, as a foundation or marketing tool for the Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark.”

“this correspondence places GBAG, its leadership, and the Crown (including federal and provincial funders and partners) on notice that the continued development, promotion, and funding of the aspiring geopark in its present form is inconsistent with the Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, the Crown’s duty to consult and accommodate, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, 2021″

“GBAG’s own materials indicate that it is not only monetizing the land, but also monetizing Anishinaabe culture.”

“Immediately cease and desist from using Anishinaabe cultural teachings, symbols, or narratives in marketing, branding, programming, or interpretive materials”

read letter

3 OPPOSING CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS

Open accordions to read letters and motions of opposition

September 2, 2025 – “GBF cannot support and must confirm its opposition to AGBG becoming an approved UNESCO Geopark.”

“Although repeatedly promised, we have received no comprehensive plan for visitor control
measures over the 200 or so significant geosites AGBG has identified around Georgian Bay.”

“it continues to be clear that the main focus and marketing of AGBG are to expand consumptive tourism and economic development around all of Georgian Bay under the umbrella of UNESCO and based on the assumption that other conservation managers would safeguard those sites.” 

read letter

October 15, 2025 – “The negative shift in public discourse about the proposed Geopark has put the UNESCO brand at risk, and is resulting in confusion about our own involvement with the proposed Geopark initiative.”

“We are deeply concerned about how your proposal may affect the trust and understanding for UNESCO values that have been developed in the region.”

“Until our Board of Directors sees a clear development path and strong assurances for community engagement, that clearly and authentically honours UNESCO values, we cannot support the work continuing in its current trajectory.”

read letter

March 23, 2026 – “Following a period of careful review and extensive consultation, GBA has formally decided not to endorse or support the Georgian Bay Geopark project.”

“The enormous extent of the proposed Geopark requires the demonstrated support of municipalities, First Nations, and other groups across the region. We see growing objections from those communities rather than the broad support that UNESCO designation requires.”

see posting

ADDITIONAL OPPOSING ORGANIZATIONS

Open accordions to read letters and motions of opposition

June 23, 2025 – “We are sending this letter to you to express our opposition to the Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark which would encompass our provately owned farmland on bothe Manitoulin Islqand and the North Shore.”

“MNSFA is strongly oopposed to the Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark and request that Manitoulin Island and the North Shore be removed from the proposed area of inclusion”

read letter

Want to learn more?

Read our blog.

Is the Georgian Bay Geopark Initiative Harming the UNESCO Brand?

What happens to public trust in UNESCO when an initiative that has neither been designated nor submitted an application repeatedly places the UNESCO brand at the centre of its public messaging?

What Does “Nominate Georgian Bay” Mean?

The new Georgian Bay Geopark Executive Director, Jeff MacInnis, has recently been asking people on his personal Facebook page to “nominate” Georgian Bay to become a UNESCO Global Geopark by simply saying “YES” in the comments.
There is just one problem: saying “YES” in a Facebook comment isn’t how you nominate a UNESCO Global Geopark.

What Are Prospective Donors Being Told (and Not Being Told) About the Georgian Bay Geopark?

The Georgian Bay Geopark’s Small Change Fund page is aimed at prospective donors and currently shows $831,803 raised toward a $1 million goal. It describes the initiative in terms of partnership, community involvement and open dialogue. The issue isn’t that a fundraising page presents a project positively. The question is whether prospective donors are being…

Is the Georgian Bay Geopark really a grassroots community-led effort?

The home page of the Georgian Bay Geopark website claims: “The Georgian Bay Geopark Initiative is a grassroots, community-led effort exploring how this internationally recognized model could help celebrate, understand, and safeguard one of Canada’s most remarkable regions.” Is it grassroots and community-led? Fact or fiction? Let’s start with the Board of Directors for the…

Georgian Bay Geopark invites people to join them as they “explore” the creation of a UNESCO Global Geopark for Georgian Bay.

They pose a big question: Could Georgian Bay and the North Channel become a UNESCO global geopark? We decided to take them up on their offer. Let’s explore! We started by exploring Manitoulin Island.  All 9 municipalities on Manitoulin are united in their opposition to the geopark. So are all 6 First Nations represented by…

Is the Georgian Bay Geopark a UNESCO project?….or not? You decide.

This slide was presented to the Township of the Archipelago on June 19. It looks like the Georgian Bay Geopark must be affiliated with UNESCO.. Or is it? Here are the facts: Why does the Georgian Bay Geopark constantly cite UNESCO despite having no affiliation whatsoever? Fact or fiction? You decide.

The Georgian Bay Geopark Can No Longer Call Itself an Aspiring Geopark.

As of April 2026, the Canadian Geoparks Network has removed the Georgian Bay Geopark from their website entirely. There has been no official statement from ccUNESCO or the Canadian Geoparks Network regarding why they no longer acknowledge the Georgian Bay Geopark as a project. A little bit of research uncovered the following…. A requirement for…

Bay of Fundy Geopark Georgian Bay Geopark

Canada has 5 UNESCO Geoparks

The Georgian Bay Aspiring Geopark is not like them. At 48,000 square kilometers, it is 6.1 times larger than Canada’s largest geopark, and 86.5 times larger than Canada’s smallest geopark. With a planned 100+ geosites, it will have 3.6 times more sites than Canada’s largest geopark, and 9.1 times more sites than Canada’s smallest geopark….