Get the facts.
This timeline takes from newspaper articles and Midland Council meeting recordings to provide a comprehensive summary of how the geopark idea came to be, its purpose, and how it is intended to primarily benefit North Simcoe.
geopark timeline
december 2020
Simcoe County Allocates $50,000 for a Georgian Bay Geopark Feasibility Study
County of Simcoe Economic Funding Program approves $50,000 for a branding and marketing consultant to determine the feasibility of the North Simcoe area, including the Midland Bay Landing waterfront property, being designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
“Having this designation will enhance development opportunities by extending tourism to new global tourists.”
read article
County of Simcoe Economic Funding Program approves $50,000 for a branding and marketing consultant to determine the feasibility of the North Simcoe area, including the Midland Bay Landing waterfront property, being designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark.
“Having this designation will enhance development opportunities by extending tourism to new global tourists.”
read article
february 2, 2021
Midland Bay Landing awards UNESCO Global GeoParks project to Toronto Firm
BrandTrade co-founder Cameron Brohman stated that not only would it open up the area to tourism, but it would also attract high-quality developers.
“Where UNESCO is not a bank itself, Brohman said, the designation connects organizations with private-sector sources of funding.”
read article
BrandTrade co-founder Cameron Brohman stated that not only would it open up the area to tourism, but it would also attract high-quality developers.
“Where UNESCO is not a bank itself, Brohman said, the designation connects organizations with private-sector sources of funding.”
read article
june 5, 2021
Midland Report: the Geopark Will Bring Strong Economic Benefits
Midland Chief Administrative Officer submits report highlighting the economic benefits of being designated a Global Geopark, including the expansion of global tourism, new businesses, attracting new investment and additional tax revenue from businesses and real estate development.
“Global tourism expands in and around Geoparks that sees current businesses expand and flourish and new businesses started.”
Read the report here: EDS 2021-247 Schedule 10
Midland Chief Administrative Officer submits report highlighting the economic benefits of being designated a Global Geopark, including the expansion of global tourism, new businesses, attracting new investment and additional tax revenue from businesses and real estate development.
“Global tourism expands in and around Geoparks that sees current businesses expand and flourish and new businesses started.”
Read the report here: EDS 2021-247 Schedule 10
September 15, 2021
Feasibility Study Presented to Midland Council
Tony Pigott, now the Aspiring Geopark Executive Director, did the presentation.
“In time, other areas of Georgian Bay will engage. But North Simcoe has the opportunity to be the first mover, and to be the dominant (I won’t say dominant), but the gateway to the UNESCO Geopark and the place that people go to first, being adjacent as you are to four million people, etc. etc.”
The presentation starts at 19:15. Watch it here
Tony Pigott, now the Aspiring Geopark Executive Director, did the presentation.
“In time, other areas of Georgian Bay will engage. But North Simcoe has the opportunity to be the first mover, and to be the dominant (I won’t say dominant), but the gateway to the UNESCO Geopark and the place that people go to first, being adjacent as you are to four million people, etc. etc.”
The presentation starts at 19:15. Watch it here
august 12, 2022
Aspiring Geopark Presentation is Hosted by the Midland Cultural Centre
Participants included Tony Pigott, Dr. Nick Eyles and Dr. Kirsten Kennedy.
1:44:08 “We can mobilize the geosites into coherent systematic tours, we can do, you know, like a Great Circle Tour around the bay. If you’re in your car, you can listen to the tape, which will know where you are, give you information, that sort of thing.”
Watch it here
Participants included Tony Pigott, Dr. Nick Eyles and Dr. Kirsten Kennedy.
1:44:08 “We can mobilize the geosites into coherent systematic tours, we can do, you know, like a Great Circle Tour around the bay. If you’re in your car, you can listen to the tape, which will know where you are, give you information, that sort of thing.”
Watch it here
may 3, 2023
Tony Pigott Presents a Geopark Update to Midland Council
The focus of the presentation is on the economic development opportunities that the Geopark will generate.
Midland Mayor Bill Gordon:
“Penetanguishene’s licking their chops at being the epicenter for the Discovery Centre.” & “This is really a North Simcoe initiative.”
The presentation starts at 30:57. Watch it here
The focus of the presentation is on the economic development opportunities that the Geopark will generate.
Midland Mayor Bill Gordon:
“Penetanguishene’s licking their chops at being the epicenter for the Discovery Centre.” & “This is really a North Simcoe initiative.”
The presentation starts at 30:57. Watch it here
may 14, 2024
Simcoe County Agrees to Provide a Letter of Support
Recommendation EDS-24-24
Moved by: Councillor Doug Rawson
Seconded by: Councillor Judith Cox
That a letter be sent by the Warden to the Canadian Geopark Network Board of Directors to express the County of Simcoe’s support for the Georgian Bay Geopark’s candidacy for designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark; and that the Warden consider approval of a delegation presentation on this topic to a future Committee of the Whole meeting.
CARRIED
See the report
Recommendation EDS-24-24
Moved by: Councillor Doug Rawson
Seconded by: Councillor Judith Cox
That a letter be sent by the Warden to the Canadian Geopark Network Board of Directors to express the County of Simcoe’s support for the Georgian Bay Geopark’s candidacy for designation as a UNESCO Global Geopark; and that the Warden consider approval of a delegation presentation on this topic to a future Committee of the Whole meeting.
CARRIED
See the report
july 1, 2024
‘RFP for the RFP’ on Midland Bay Landing
“The RFP is to retain a consultant who is going to assist us with the broader, larger RFP, to try and get interest in having a developer come on board.
“Of course, I’m a huge proponent of ‘let’s get this thing going, let’s parkify the east side, keep the 1,100 metres of the shoreline public and build something amazing in our deep-water port that can bring in tax revenue and bring in tourism, and everyone can enjoy’,” said Gordon.
link to article
“The RFP is to retain a consultant who is going to assist us with the broader, larger RFP, to try and get interest in having a developer come on board.
“Of course, I’m a huge proponent of ‘let’s get this thing going, let’s parkify the east side, keep the 1,100 metres of the shoreline public and build something amazing in our deep-water port that can bring in tax revenue and bring in tourism, and everyone can enjoy’,” said Gordon.
link to article
august 21, 2024
The Geopark Receives $175,000 to Develop Tourism Programming
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario grants $175,000 to the Georgian Bay Geopark to develop and implement interpretive tourism programming for the Georgian Bay Geopark.
See news release
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario grants $175,000 to the Georgian Bay Geopark to develop and implement interpretive tourism programming for the Georgian Bay Geopark.
See news release
present time
The first tourism Product is Launched on a Global Level
The Geopark is promoting a 8-day guided cycling adventure tour for up to ten cyclists for $6,948 CAD per person based on double occupancy. The tour is being promoted in English, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish and Thai.
All accommodations are in Bruce County and North Simcoe.
link to cycling tour
The Geopark is promoting a 8-day guided cycling adventure tour for up to ten cyclists for $6,948 CAD per person based on double occupancy. The tour is being promoted in English, Dutch, French, Italian, Spanish and Thai.
All accommodations are in Bruce County and North Simcoe.
link to cycling tour