Niagara College kicked off Earth Day on April 22 hosting a special announcement at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake in support of the Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global Geopark (NPAGG).
NPAGG is seeking UNESCO Global Geopark designation for the Niagara Peninsula by 2023 to advance sustainable tourism in the area. The designation is given to single, unified geographical areas with sites and landscapes of international geological significance. Since Geoparks are popular tourist destinations, an official designation would position Niagara as a key destination for eco-tourism and geo-heritage, helping to increase local and international visits to the area.
“We’re using geology and science to bolster sustainable tourism,” said NPAGG Chair and Resident Geologist Perry Hartwick, who emceed the event.
The designation would be the first for Ontario and the sixth in Canada. To support the Geopark application, NPAGG has developed partnerships with academic, tourism, conservation, agricultural and Indigenous organizations. Niagara College, which is among NPAGG’s list of community supporters, is considered a Bedrock Partner of the initiative.
While offering host remarks, NC President Sean Kennedy noted how NPAGG resonates with the College’s vision and shared how Social Inclusion and Environmental Sustainability are one of the key areas of focus in NC’s newly launched Strategic Plan.
“There is great synergy in the goals of the Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Geopark and Niagara College’s areas of expertise in hospitality and tourism, environment and sustainability, business, culinary and agriculture,” said Kennedy. “The Niagara Geopark benefits all those living in Niagara, educational institutions like ours, and businesses by showcasing the heritage, culture and beauty in the natural environment in Niagara while safeguarding its legacy for future generations.”
He also highlighted that NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus provides opportunities for students to connect with their surroundings. The campus is a key migratory path for birds, features restored wetlands, connects to both the Bruce trail and Laura Secord trail, and sits on the edge of Woodend Conservation Area, which is one of over 20 Geosites in Niagara.
“The Niagara Region has a unique ecological and geological location, and on this campus at the base of the Niagara escarpment, our students are learning and experiencing the very geology that makes the Region so unique,” said Kennedy.
NC’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus also achieved a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary designation in 2017 – the first postsecondary institution in Canada to do so – and, earlier this year, NC’s Teaching Winery achieved Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario (SWO) certification.
Darren Platakis (left) and Perry Hartwick (right) with NPAGG present NC President Sean Kennedy with a Bedrock Partner plaque.
Niagara Regional Chair Jim Bradley, who was Ontario’s Minister of the Environment from 1985-1990, attended the announcement and gave a keynote address. He applauded the Global Geopark initiative and its supporters, and noted how the certification will help Niagara’s tourism sector recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This UNESCO certification will be another indicator to the world that Niagara is truly unique and worth preserving and protecting,” said Bradley. “I’m confident that the designation of Niagara as UNESCO Global Geopark will bring new opportunities for investment in Niagara’s tourism and hospitality industry by creating and growing sustainable tourism experiences right across Niagara.”
To help advance Global Geopark designation for the Niagara Peninsula, the Greenbelt Foundation announced a grant of just over $94,000 to support NPAGG with the certification process.
To learn more, visit the Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Global Geopark website.
CHCH News covered the announcement at NC. View the segment, which appeared on the April 22 evening news (6 p.m.).
Representatives from the Niagara Peninsula Aspiring Geopark and the Greenbelt Foundation, Bedrock Partners (NC, Arterra Wines Canada, Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls Resort) and community and business leaders are pictured following an announcement at NC’s Wine Visitor + Education Centre on April 22.
