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.

This infographic from UNESCO outlines the actual process. In Year 1, a prospective Geopark needs to submit an expression of interest.  The Georgian Bay Geopark submitted its letter of interest in 2021.

The next step is submission of an application, which UNESCO’s process calls for in the same year as the expression of interest.  Five years later, the Georgian Bay Geopark still has not submitted its application. That application requires, among other things, “an explicit endorsement of any relevant and regional local authorities and a letter of support from the National Commission for UNESCO.”

Instead of endorsements, the Geopark faces documented opposition from 11 municipalities, eight First Nations and three conservation organizations, including the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve.

And instead of a letter of support, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO has issued a letter stating “We have taken note of the letters of opposition or concern that we have received and will give these due consideration should an application be received. Moreover, we note that the Georgian Bay Biosphere Region has publicly stated that it does not endorse the Geopark at this time.”   The letter also confirms “the Georgian Bay Geopark has not submitted an application to UNESCO, nor does it hold a UNESCO designation. It therefore has no affiliation with UNESCO or the Canadian Commission for UNESCO at this time.”

If the required endorsements and other application requirements are met, the application enters the Evaluation phase. This involves both a desktop review and an in-person field evaluation by two evaluators.

After UNESCO has conducted the evaluation mission, there is finally a nomination phase. But the “nomination” phase isn’t a public vote. The UNESCO process describes it as an “Item on the agenda of the Executive Board Spring Session proposing to endorse the recommendations of the Council”—not a yes vote by John Q. Public.

So when MacInnis posts on his personal Facebook page: “Please Help Us Nominate Georgian Bay To Become A UNESCO Global GEOPARK. Just Say YES In The Comments Below” he is using “nominate” in a way that does not describe the UNESCO application mechanism.

So what is the purpose of the campaign?

Could it be to create an impression of broad public support for the Georgian Bay Geopark?

UNESCO does emphasize community involvement. Its definition of a Global Geopark describes a bottom-up approach involving local communities.

But UNESCO Geoparks are not a friends-and-family event.

Public comments saying “YES” are not nominations to UNESCO.