Here the ancient hard rocks of the Canadian Shield to the north abruptly meet the softer limestones of the ancient seas creating a stark contrast in landscapes, ecosystems, and a diverse cultural history unique in North America. First Nation communities begin growing maize in the fertile soils of Ice Age glacial sediments at least 4000 years ago. French missionaries and explorers arrived in the early 1600s, followed by British settlers after 1840 drawn by agriculture, fishing and lumber.
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The Georgian Bay Geopark is not a completed project. The information presented here represents foundational research, community input and early ideas developed over the past three years.
These Time Zones, places and stories are intended as starting points for dialogue. Through ongoing conversations with First Nations, Métis communities, municipalities, organizations, residents and visitors, the vision for the region will continue to evolve and be shaped together.
For learning, curriculum, and digital storytelling to be guided by community input.
LIDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure variable distances to the Earth. LIDAR mapping tells us the geological stories of the past and informs geologists and others about what may happen around the world as it ages. LIDAR also reveals changes in the land vegetation that may inform affects of climate change. These are sample LIDAR mappings of some of the well known regions and locations of Deep Time Zone 7.
DEEP TIME’ is the themed expression of how exploring and understanding the past helps create a better future. The unique DEEP TIME story and its eight geological chapters encourages both visitors and residents to know the past, celebrate the present and help create a more resilient future for the Bay and its many communities.
2.7 billion years
Sault Ste Marie to Serpent River
The ancient mineral-rich rocks of the North Channel record the breakup of the planet’s oldest supercontinent – and the birth of the Huronian Ocean.
1.8 billion years
Serpent River to Killarney
The Group of Seven’s white rolling quartzite hills are the stumps of mountains formed when landmasses collided to form supercontinent Nuna
1.3 billion years
Killarney to Honey Harbour
The waterscape of the 30,000 Islands exposes the deep crustal roots of the immense Grenville Mountains formed when North and South America collided.
500 million years
Manitoulin Island
Much of North America was covered by warm shallow seas, teeming with early marine life that left fossil-rich limestones on Manitoulin Island.
350 million years
Tobermory to Wiarton
Within the last 2 million years, the Bruce/Saugeen peninsula was scoured by Ice Age ice sheets that cut deep valleys into the face of the Niagara Escarpment such as at Owen Sound.
13,000 years
Collingwood to Wiarton
The raised beaches of glacial Lake Algonquin surround the coast of southern Georgian Bay like staircases and hosted the camps of caribou-hunting Paleo-Indians 11,000 years ago.
4,000 years to today
Waters of Georgian Bay
In 1615 Samuel de Champlain called Georgian Bay ‘La Mer Douce’ (the sweet water sea). An early map also portrays it as Karegnondi, derived from ‘lake’ in the language of the Petun First Nation.
