History of Geoheritage Day

Explore Geoheritage Day was initiated in 2006 to celebrate the diversity of exceptional sites of geological significance within the National Capital Region.  Held each year on a sunny autumn Saturday, the event invites the public to come out to their local parks and green spaces and learn how geological processes have shaped our landscape, given us a glimpse into past environments and provided resources for our use.  Geoheritage Day is hosted by volunteers from Carleton University’s Department of Earth Sciences, and the Ottawa-Gatineau Geoheritage Project, supported by our partners from the Cardinal Creek Community Association and the International Biodiversity Conservancy.   During the pandemic, the event has continued in digital version, adding virtual sites, culminating with this year’s release of the
Canada-wide Geoheritage Day website!  We plan to continue adding publicly accessible sites, so that folks across Canada can go out and discover the geoheritage in their own regions. 

A Geoheritage Site is a locality that meets one or more of the following:

• Exposes a significant record of natural history
• Contains characteristic or unique features
• Contributes to understanding the natural history of the region
• Offers new scientific insights
• Offers distinct aesthetic and cultural values

To make site suggestions contact beth.mclartyhalfkenny@carleton.ca