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Stop the Georgian Bay Geopark!

Dear SpeakOut! user

I respectfully request that the aspiring status of the Georgian Bay Geopark be revoked. The Georgian Bay Geopark is not being undertaken in the spirit intended by UNESCO and does not have a bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities.

Here are the facts:

The geopark initiative is intended to monetize Georgian Bay.
a) The idea was initiated by a property development organization looking to attract developers to a specific site in Midland.
b) The geopark idea is “a North Simcoe initiative”. North Simcoe touches only a small part of Georgian Bay but it is trying to claim all of it. Most communities outside of North Simcoe have not been involved.
c) North Simcoe, which calls itself “The Heart of Georgian Bay” is within a 2 hour drive of over 5 million people. It plans to serve as the gateway to launch tourists into Georgian Bay – tourists who will cause costs and ecological impact mostly outside of the county.

Georgian Bay does not qualify as a single unified area.
a) On a sociocultural basis, it has 6 districts. 33 municipalities, 41 first nations organizations, between 12 and 20 provincial and national parks, and dozens of cottager associations. Most of them have not been consulted.
b) On a geological basis, at 48,000 square kilometers, even the Aspiring Geopark acknowledge that there are eight different geological regions within Georgian Bay.
c) Ecologically, it is already home to two different Biosphere Reserves.

The geopark has no conservation plan and will harm the ecology of Georgian Bay.
a) Georgian Bay is home to over 50 endangered species, whose sensitive habitats will be damaged by increased tourism.
b) The geopark leadership team have no plans to manage any of the geosites they are promoting.
c) The geopark leadership team are relying upon their ability to acquire the support of actual conservation organizations so that they can meet this particular UNESCO requirement.

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Together we can keep Georgian Bay Strong!
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The petition reads as follows:

I respectfully request that the aspiring status of the Georgian Bay Geopark be revoked. The Georgian Bay Geopark is not being undertaken in the spirit intended by UNESCO and does not have a bottom-up approach of combining conservation with sustainable development while involving local communities.

Here are the facts:

  1. The geopark initiative is intended to monetize Georgian Bay.
    a) The idea was initiated by a property development organization looking to attract developers to a specific site in Midland.
    b) The geopark idea is “a North Simcoe initiative”. North Simcoe touches only a small part of Georgian Bay but it is trying to claim all of it. Most communities outside of North Simcoe have not been involved.
    c) North Simcoe, which calls itself “The Heart of Georgian Bay” is within a 2 hour drive of over 5 million people. It plans to serve as the gateway to launch tourists into Georgian Bay – tourists who will cause costs and ecological impact mostly outside of the county.
  2. Georgian Bay does not qualify as a single unified area.
    a) On a sociocultural basis, it has 6 districts. 33 municipalities, 41 first nations organizations, between 12 and 20 provincial and national parks, and dozens of cottager associations. Most of them have not been consulted.
    b) On a geological basis, at 48,000 square kilometers, even the Aspiring Geopark acknowledge that there are eight different geological regions within Georgian Bay.
    c) Ecologically, it is already home to two different Biosphere Reserves.
  3. The geopark has no conservation plan and will harm the ecology of Georgian Bay.
    a) Georgian Bay is home to over 50 endangered species, whose sensitive habitats will be damaged by increased tourism.
    b) The geopark leadership team have no plans to manage any of the geosites they are promoting.
    c) The geopark leadership team are relying upon their ability to acquire the support of actual conservation organizations so that they can meet this particular UNESCO requirement.