Our Leadership

Our Board is a diverse group of professionals from the area who provide the Geopark with it’s direction.  We meet monthly at our Headquarters in the Visitor Centre and provide Geopark staff with the support to make the TRUGG an ever evolving part of Tumbler Ridge.

Chairman

Scientific Advisors

Our Scientific advisors provide a broad perspective that is invaluable to our Geopark.  We engage them for input on a range of issues within their academic fields and involve them in research opportunities within the Geopark.

Dr Stephen Johnston

Earth Sciences Professor - U of A

Karstologist

Greg Halseth Headshot

Geography Professor - UNBC

Karstologist

Geologist

Strategic Vision

Vision

A Geopark where you can celebrate and explore the stories of our people and place

Mission

Our mission is to honour the geological, cultural and environmental character of our Geopark, so to enhance well-being of our people through education, engagement and sustainable development.

Strategic Priorities

Science

We will engage in and utilize scientific research to advance the knowledge of the territory, ensuring engagement of the local and scientific community and leading to the celebration of the Geopark and its opportunities within the region.

Goals

  1. Drive science and research within the Geopark;
  2. Be stewards of geoheritage;
  3. Enable accesible science.

Engagement

We will engage with all relevant stakeholders to strengthen the community and citizens’ identification with their area, environment, heritage and the broader context in which they live.

Goals

  1. Continue local, regional, national and global engagement;
  2. Foster a reputable organization;
  3. Develop and implement an effective communication strategy.

Education

We will raise the awareness and knowledge of Geoparks and geoheritage and how that geoheritage has links to the other natural, cultural and intangible heritages within the region.

Goals

  1. Increased understanding of what a Geopark is;
  2. Increased uptake and further development of Educational resources for K-12 and post-secondary;
  3. Continued educational delivery to stakeholders and the general public.

Sustainability

We will create an organization capable of generating sustainable and real economic benefits and opportunities to the region.

Goals

  1. Strategically position the TRGGS to ensure the long-term stability of the organization;
  2. Practice and promote sustainable, ethical development of industry, tourism and recreation;
  3. Celebrate our natural assets through promotion and support of best practices.

Now a UNESCO site

We’re excited and honoured that as of November 17, 2015 UNESCO has made 120 Global Geoparks (including the TRGG) official UNESCO sites.

Geopark Designated

On September 23rd, 2014 the Tumbler Ridge Geopark became a Global Geopark, supported by UNESCO.

UNESCO Press Release

Tumbler Ridge Press Release

CBC Radio interview

 

Geopark funding announcement interview

Who we are

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark Society (TRGGS) is led by a Board of Directors, which evolved from a Steering Committee and Executive, once known as the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark Society.  It is incorporated as a registered not-for-profit society in the province of British Columbia, with its own constitution and bylaws, with scientific advisors in geology, paleontology and archaeology.

Board of Directors:

President/Chair: Al Kangas
Vice President/Chair: Murray Smith
Secretary: Michael Preston
Treasurer: Hugh Kingwell
Director: Marsha Dufresne
Director: April Moi
Director: Joanne Kirby
Director: Ashley Pindera
Director: Kristen Holmlund
Philosophy
“Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing.”
― Thomas Jefferson
Tourism Goals
  1. Increase the length of stay of existing visitors.

  2. Increase the number of visitors focusing on those people who visit outside of the main events which are typically at capacity, such as the Geopark event Emperors’ Challenge and Grizfest.

  3. Increase the number of higher-yield visitors.

Our Partners

Stakeholders:

Industry representatives:

  • Coal mines (Anglo American, HD Mining, Teck Corporation, Conuma Coal)
  • Natural Gas (CNRL, Talisman, Spectra etc.)
  • Wind Energy (Capital Power, etc.)
  • Forestry (West Fraser, Canfor etc.)

Educational institutions:

  • University of Northern British Columbia
  • Tumbler Ridge Campus of the Northern Lights College
  • School District #59: Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, Tumbler Ridge Elementary School
  • Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce

Important Partners of the Geopark include:

Direct Operators:

Ridge Rotors
Wild River Adventure Tours
Trend Mountain Hotel and Conference Centre
The TR Hotel