Trebek Initiative Awards $67,494 to Georgian Bay Geopark Project

‘TWO-EYED SEEING’; USING LIDAR TO DOCUMENT AND ILLUSTRATE 11,000 YEARS OF 
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY IN GEORGIAN BA
Y – First ever Geocultural Atlas of Georgian Bay – Kirsten Kennedy , Dr Nick Eyles (University of Toronto) – with Jamie Hunter, Jack Contin and Peter Storck

Building on their individual legacies, and a shared history of excellence in storytelling, exploration and education, The National Geographic Society and The Royal Canadian Geographical Society have reinvigorated their long-standing collaborative efforts to create this initiative. The Trebek Initiative funds storytellers, educators, conservationists and researchers whose projects aim to preserve Canadian and Indigenous land, wildlife, water, culture and history.


Georgian Bay, Ontario is a unique North American ecosystem now recognized as an Aspiring UNESCO Global Geopark in acknowledgement of its diverse geology and landscapes. By virtue of its position along the edge of the Canadian Shield, it has been at a crossroad of cultures since people first visited the shores of then Glacial Lake Algonquin, 11,500 years ago. Thus began a long-lived interconnection between an evolving landscape and First Ancestors that has persisted in the histories and traditions of the many Indigenous cultures that have called Aki and Georgian Bay home, like the Huron-Wendat, Council of Three Fires, Haudenosaunee, and most recently the Metis People. Embracing the principle of ‘two-eyed seeing’ to reconcile the Indigenous perspective from geomythology and history with state-of-the art mapping technologies, Kirsten will map geo-cultural sites identified by local Indigenous and archeological partners with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology. Work completed to date shows that LiDAR imagery reveals hitherto unseen details of a site’s physical setting in a highly visual and accessible format. The results will inform planning of the UNESCO Geopark and associated educational and conservation activities. As a final educational product, LiDAR images, geomythology, and maps will be curated into a large format physical and digital atlas of “geo-cultural” sites around Georgian Bay.

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Find out more about the Georgian Bay Aspiring GeoPark

ASPIRING GEORGIAN BAY GEOPARK

A grass roots initiative to establish Georgian Bay
 as one of the world’s greatest UNESCO Global Geoparks

Aspiring Georgian Bay Geopark

A Georgian Bay Geopark will showcase the Bay’s extraordinary Geo-heritage to Canada and the world
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UNESCO GEOPARKS

There are 177 UNESCO GeoParks in 46 countries around the world, 5 in Canada

UNESCO Geoparks

"Single, unified geographical areas of international geological significance managed with a holistic concept"
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WHY GEORGIAN BAY?

Georgian Bay’s geology, long history and culture position the Bay to be one of the World’s great Geoparks

Why Georgian Bay?

Historically, the study of Georgian Bay rocks paved the way for modern global understanding of how continents form and migrate
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ASPIRING GEORGIAN BAY GEOPARK VISION

Four essential building blocks will build one of the world’s greatest Geoparks

Georgian Bay Geopark Vision

100+ Geopark Sites Geopark On line Education and Research Community Leadership
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WHO BENEFITS?

A UNESCO designated Georgian Bay Geopark can engage and benefit all of Georgian Bay

Who benefits?

Municipalities, First Nations and Metis, Conservation Groups,Tourism and Businesses, Permanent and Seasonal Residents, Educators
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RESEARCH, EDUCATION, FIELD TRIPS

Work has begun on Educational Material, Virtual Field Trips and new Research

Research, Education, Field Trips

New initiatives are providing key scientific information to support conservation efforts around the Bay
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ABOUT US

The creation of a UNESCO Global Geopark is a grassroots initiative led by The Georgian Bay Geopark Network – GBGN

About us

The Aspiring Georgian Bay Geopark initiative is guided by a set of inclusive principles
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GET INVOLVED

The GBGN is looking to form partnerships and collaborations with communities and organizations throughout the Bay

Get involved

The GBGN also invites individuals to join the Network; to get involved with ideas, stories and support.
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The GBGN thanks these organizations for their support