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TUMBLER RIDGE ASPIRING GEOPARK

TUMBLER RIDGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

OCTOBER 2013

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INTRODUCTION In submitting this application we are expressing our belief that we are already functioning as a de facto Geopark. We have wonderfully varied geology, topography, scenery and human history, catapulted to fame by the fantastic paleontological discoveries of the past decade. Government, industry, scientists, First Nations, volunteers and tourism organizations have been captivated by the potential this offers, and are keen to see it fulfilled. Our geomorphological features include a great mountain range, Cretaceous dinosaur trackways, a Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed, rock folding, rock faulting, spectacular rock towers and formations, limestone caves, other karst phenomena, resurgence springs, a variety of lake forms, lacustrine terraces, canyons, Triassic marine reptile fossils, Triassic fish fossils, Mississippian fossil invertebrates and Cretaceous plant fossils, as well as evidence of glaciation. We have strong regional and local political support, industry support, dedicated scientists, and passionate volunteers who drive the project. To us, an application to become a Global Geopark seems to be a logical, almost inevitable outcome of the work that has already been done.

We substantiate this claim that we are to all intents and purposes a de facto Geopark with evidence:

- Our palaeontological museum with its Dinosaur Discovery Gallery, collections area, active research program in the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre, guided tours, educational camps, symposia., and programs for school groups. This museum forms the anchor of our proposed Geopark.

- The hiking trails that lead to areas of geological and scenic splendour, and historic importance. - A single modern rural community with attractive hospitality potential and a wealth of accessible

geological attractions, but which is also situated close to a mountain wilderness that remains largely undisturbed, with further geological wonders that are accessible to the adventurous.

- Our Community Centre, the walls of which are filled with exhibits on our archaeological and more recent pioneer and mining history.

- The books that have already been written that celebrate these wonders, including the trilogy released in 2013 on the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark: Tumbler Ridge – the Scenery, Tumbler Ridge – the Human History, and Tumbler Ridge – the Fossils.

- The enthusiasm of local artists, musicians and dramatists in portraying this history - Volunteers who have forged relationships with government and industry and who, in collaboration

with our dedicated scientists, drive this project forwards; - The Tumbler Ridge community theme of “Waterfalls and Dinosaurs”.

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A – IDENTIFICATION OF THE AREA

1. Name of the proposed Geopark The name of the proposed Geopark is the Tumbler Ridge Geopark

2. Surface area, physical and human geography characteristics of the proposed Geopark The proposed Geopark comprises a portion of the eastern slopes of the Hart Ranges of the northern Rocky Mountains of British Columbia. High glaciated summits characterise the southern boundary, which is partially the divide between waters flowing northeast into the Murray and Wapiti Rivers, and waters flowing southwest into the Parsnip and Fraser Rivers.

The highest point (right) is the summit of Bulley Glacier Peak, 2630 metres (8600 feet) above sea level. The lowest elevation, at the northern boundary where Salt Creek enters the Murray River, is 663 metres (2079 feet) feet above sea level. Elevation generally decreases from southwest to northeast. Rivers cut valleys through the northwest-southeast trending front ranges of the mountains, then flow through the foothills. Numerous waterfalls grace these watercourses and their tributaries. The geological formations likewise tend to lie in a northwest-southeast direction, with the oldest rocks typically being found in the southwest and progressively younger rocks occurring to the northeast. The age span encompassed is substantial – Pre-Cambrian to late Cretaceous. Outside of the mountainous areas, glacial till and Pleistocene deposits cover much of the bedrock, and in turn are mostly covered by various types of forest, mostly coniferous. In the lower-lying areas bedrock is therefore most commonly encountered in canyons.

The archaeological record demonstrates numerous prehistoric sites. The area appears to have been accessed extensively by mobile, small, family-based groups for seasonal forays and expeditions into the mountains for hunting and gathering purposes. The area includes part of the postulated “Ice-free Corridor,” which would have allowed the population of the Americas once the Bering land-bridge had been crossed. One archaeological tool found near the western boundary of the area is one of the oldest in British Columbia. While no First Nations communities or Indian Reserves are located within the proposed geopark boundaries, there are five distinct cultural First Nations peoples represented in the region: Beaver (Dunne-za), Saulteau, Sekani (Tse’Khene), Cree and Métis. The McLeod Lake Indian Band, Saulteau First Nations and West Moberly First Nations are Treaty 8 signatory First Nations communities comprised of these cultures, with overlapping traditional territory in the proposed Geopark area. The Kelly Lake Cree First Nation, Kelly Lake First Nation and Kelly Lake Métis Settlement Society, all located along Kelly Lake, are non-treaty First Nations communities with overlapping traditional territory in the proposed Geopark area. All six of these communities have been approached by the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark Steering Committee regarding the proposed Geopark. The European presence appears late in the record – an 1879 map indicates the entire proposed Geopark as “unexplored area.” The search for railway passes began in the early 1900s, followed by the first pioneer trappers and ranchers, whose numbers remained small.

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In the 1950s natural gas deposits were identified, and in the 1970s sizeable metallurgical coal deposits were defined. This led to the formation, in the wilderness, of the community of Tumbler Ridge in the early 1980s and the development of two coal mines. Low coal prices led to the closure of the mines in 2000 and 2003, and the community faced extinction. A second generation of coal mines is now in operation, with more mines likely to open. Natural gas is extracted, and the prevailing southwesterly winds have led to the development of the first wind energy project.

Tumbler Ridge (left) is the only community within the proposed Geopark, with an estimated population of 4000. The nearest communities are Chetwynd, 90 kilometres to the northwest, and Dawson Creek, 100 kilometres to the northeast. At the time of Tumbler Ridge’s lowest ebb, in 2001, two local boys discovered dinosaur tracks in a creek-bed close to town (below). This spurred the development of the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and

the associated Dinosaur Discovery Gallery with its educational and guided-tour components, and the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre with its research program. Numerous subsequent palaeontological discoveries have occurred, many of global significance. Thanks to the work of the palaeontologists employed in this facility by the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, and the support provided by volunteers, Tumbler Ridge has become the centre of excellence of vertebrate palaeontology in British Columbia. The local municipal council has recognised the importance of these initiatives and has provided annual support of $200 000 to the museum project since 2005. Also in the early 2000s, the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society began developing a hiking trail network to numerous features of geological and aesthetic significance, thus further stimulating the development of tourism. Together with an influx of retirees, all these initiatives helped the community survive when the mines shut down.

3. Organization in charge and management structure of the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark Description: The name of the organization is the Steering Committee of the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark. Charles Helm (Chair) Darwin Wren (Mayor, District of Tumbler Ridge) Larry White (Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation) Thomas Clark (Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society) April Moi (Northern BC Tourism) Ray Proulx (Teck Corporation, representing industry) Erin Hanna (Tumbler Ridge Community Arts Council) Erica Sieber (Education) Mila Landsdowne (representing local tourism operators) Sue Kenny (business planning)

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Local scientific advisors attend all Steering Committee meetings: Lisa Buckley & Richard McCrea (palaeontology), Kevin Sharman (geology), Sarah Waters (archaeology).

Function: The Steering Committee will liaise with and receive input from First Nations with current involvement and/or an historic presence in the area of the proposed Geopark. While developing the proposal and taking care of its logistical and administrative elements, the Steering Committee will receive input from and liaise with stakeholders, who are kept abreast of all developments and who are encouraged to attend meetings of the steering committee as needed. These stakeholders include, but are not limited to: Government of Canada, through the Member of Parliament , Bob Zimmer Government of British Columbia through the Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mike Bernier Peace River Regional District (regional), District of Tumbler Ridge (municipal) North Peace Economic Development Council, South Peace Economic Development Council BC Parks Rec Sites and Trails BC Program (Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) British Columbia Paleontological Alliance Scitech North Community Futures BC Industry representatives Coal mines (Anglo American, HD Mining, Teck Corporation, Walter Energy) 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 Tourism operators Jet-boat operators, Guide-outfitters, Helicopter outfitters, Mine tours, First Nations tours Hospitality industry, hotels, B&Bs, restaurants Representatives from specialized interest groups (ice climbing, rock climbing, canoeing, cross country skiing, mountain running, Emperor’s Challenge Mountain Run) Community arts and cultural groups (Arts Council, artists, Tumbler Ridge Public Library) Community Seniors organizations Local service organizations (Lions Club) and Local media (Tumbler Ridge News) Canadian National Committee for Geoparks The proposed Tumbler Ridge Geopark will be managed through the Tumbler Ridge museum facility (Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre and Dinosaur Discovery Gallery) using existing office space. The Steering Committee will apply for official status as a non-profit British Columbia society, and will work with its major partners (Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, Northern BC Tourism, District of Tumbler Ridge, Chamber of Commerce) to co-ordinate the development of a package of activities, destinations, programs and opportunities that are consistent with the goals of a Global Geopark. Depending on funding levels, the project will be directed by existing museum employees or through the appointment of a dedicated Tumbler Ridge Geopark director. Functions include marketing, product development, promotion and sales, and press releases. The relation of the co-ordinating committee to the stakeholder groups and UNESCO representatives in portrayed in the appended organigram at the end of this application.

4. Application contact person:

Dr Charles Helm +1 250 242 3984 (home), +1 250 242 4251 (work), +1 250 242 1101 (cell) +1 250 242 4076 (fax), helm.c.w@gmail.com

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B – GEOLOGICAL HERITAGE 1. Location of the proposed Geopark The most westerly point is Mt Palsson (121 degrees 47`30`). The most easterly point is the British Columbia-Alberta border (121 degrees 00 00). The maximum west-east dimension of the proposed Geopark is 119 kilometres. The most northerly point is Skunk Falls (55 22`32`). The most southerly point is Bulley Glacier Peak (54 27`00`). The maximum north-south diameter is 105 kilometres. The approximate area is 7 822 square kilometres.

2. General geological description of the proposed Geopark Sedimentary rocks predominate. Rock types include sandstone, conglomerate, shale, slate, siltstone, mudstone, limestone, occasional dolomite, and Pleistocene glacial till deposits. As a general rule, layers of accessible rocks are stacked up in order of oldest to youngest, from Pre-Cambrian to Late Cretaceous, with the oldest rocks far into the mountains and on their western flanks, and the youngest rocks north and east of Tumbler Ridge, extending to the Alberta border. There are exceptions to this rule where extensive folding and faulting has taken place, but usually it holds good. Pleistocene glacial till deposits overlie much of the bedrock in the northeast.

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The Cambrian rocks display features such as worm burrows. Ordovician rocks harbour nautiloids. The area was then just to the west of the edge of the continent, and characterized by offshore seas on which reefs could accumulate. Stromatoporoids accumulated in immense numbers and thickness during the ensuing Devonian Period (410 – 360 million years ago), when the area was in equatorial latitudes. These eventually allowed the formation of the enormous oil reserves that have provided a boon to the economy of Alberta, but not yet in British Columbia.

The first major strength in the fossil record of the proposed Geopark lies in rocks of the next Period, the Mississippian (360 to 290 million years ago). At this time, continents were joining together to create the great land masses of Laurentia and Gondwanaland. The area by then had moved about twenty degrees north, and was part of a balmy, fairly shallow sea offshore from Laurentia, inhabited by a multitude of creatures. Clams, a variety of worms, brachiopods, bryozoans, crinoids, ammonoids, trilobites (above right), and blastoids (above left) are found in these rocks. However, the most easily recognizable and numerous fossils in these limestone rocks are the corals, both solitary (rugose) and colonial (tabulate) forms (above centre). These fossils sometimes occur close to or in limestone caves. The next Period, the Permian, has limited surface exposure, although deep underground it contains substantial natural gas reserves. The next fossil strength is in marine rocks from the Triassic Period (250 to 210 million years ago). Those species that had survived the end-Permian extinction event had room in which to replicate and diversify. The super-continent Pangaea, surrounded by a super-ocean, was just beginning to break up. In this ocean thrived the fishes and marine reptiles for which the Tumbler Ridge area has become renowned. Areas which were nearby and equivalent at the time are nowadays found in such diverse places as Madagascar, Greenland and Spitzbergen, Switzerland, Italy and Australia, and their fossil assemblages are quite similar. Fossil Fish Lake, near Wapiti Lake, was the site of the initial Canadian discovery in 1947. Numerous collecting trips have been to the area since, which mostly comprises scree slopes in a number of cirques. There is excellent preservation of the specimens and a diverse fauna: over twenty genera of fishes and over a dozen genera of marine reptiles. Subsequently, further such sites have been discovered in the region, and many hundreds of specimens have been removed to the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre in Tumbler Ridge. The fishes include sharks, ray-finned fishes and lobe-finned fishes like coelacanths. A new subfamily of coelacanths was recently described based on three of these specimens from the proposed Geopark area. The ray-finned fishes are known as Ganoid fishes because of their scale pattern, and the mountain range in which Fossil Fish Lake lies is marked on the maps as the Ganoid Range. Outstanding fossil specimens from this locality ended up in research laboratories and great museums all over the world, with the exception of the Peace Region from which they had originated, until the formation of the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, the establishment of the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre with its collections facility, and the subsequent exhibits in the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery in Tumbler Ridge.

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Rebellatrix is a new genus of coelacanth based on these three specimens from the Tumbler Ridge mountains (art: Michael Skrepnick).

The marine reptiles are equally interesting and include ichthyosaurs, myxosaurs and thalattosaurs. In addition to the fishes and marine reptiles, these rocks also harbour ammonites, belemnites and crustaceans. Deep underground, Triassic sediments also contain the natural gas deposits that have been so assiduously sought and developed in the past decade. The reserves (the amount proven by drilling) thus far identified in the Peace Region of British Columbia are enormous: 16.4 trillion cubic feet, or 115 million barrels. The resources (the potential amount present) are far higher. Towards the Alberta border reserves in Cretaceous rocks are being extracted, while in the mountains, improved technology has also allowed for drilling into the still deeper Permian beds (over four kilometers down), although this remains a more risky investment. The gas has become trapped as a result of thrust faulting, and it represents the organic remains of countless numbers of small organisms. As opposed to the Devonian reefs, these organisms were not reef builders, but rather were to be found on gently sloping floors of shallow seas, and formed platform carbonates, which slowly lithified. During the Triassic and Jurassic periods, dinosaurs evolved, but the fossil record of these developments is absent from the Tumbler Ridge area. The next great strength in the regional fossil record begins at the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, and extends through most of the Cretaceous Period. During this time plate tectonics, with subduction of plates below the continental margin, were dominant factors in continental geology. Through this process, British Columbia more or less as we know it was steadily being glued onto the western shores of North America as chains of islands from the Pacific Ocean, known as ‘exotic terranes’, were added onto the west coast over millions of years. Another effect of this process was equally dramatic, as rock strata thousands of meters thick were pushed up to the surface from the ancient sea-beds, and were buckled and contorted. This process steadily built up the Rocky Mountains. Their still reasonably orderly arrangement explains why the oldest rocks in the region are in the southwest, and why fossil shells and corals and other creatures are now found on the high mountain summits. The third effect was crucial from a current economic perspective. The weight of all this rock caused the land east of the mountains to slowly sink. Swampy forest decaying in this area could slowly be buried and become peat, deprived of oxygen, then subjected to heat and pressure from accumulating overlying rock sediments. The process was akin to a giant slow-cooker, and the result was high-grade coal, suitable for the metallurgical industry, and the reason for the creation of Tumbler Ridge.

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A situation had thus developed with new mountains to the west of present-day Tumbler Ridge, and a low-lying area to the east, filled with an alternately advancing and receding shallow sea forming the series of marine and terrestrial deposits that are characteristic of the Western Canadian Foreland Basin. This sea extended from the Arctic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico, effectively dividing the continent into eastern and western parts. Sea levels rose and sank, and the Tumbler Ridge area would repeatedly alternate between shallow underwater habitat, coastal plain, and shoreline habitat. As the new mountains eroded, extensive estuaries would develop at the coast, then be swamped with the next rise in sea level. The data for these events and patterns is detailed, following the analysis of data from thousands of core samples from oil and gas wells throughout the region. The fossil record has shown that dinosaurs found these terrestrial and coastal shoreline conditions attractive, and abundant evidence has accumulated for their presence. Within the Cretaceous rocks in the proposed Geopark area, there are nine terrestrial (non-marine) formations. Dinosaur footprints or bones have been described from every single one of these formations, spanning almost sixty million years. There are interesting changes to be found in the dinosaur fauna over this time period, using the evidence from tracks and bones. One of the first reports of dinosaur tracks from Canada was from the Peace Canyon west of Hudson’s Hope in the 1920s (this is north of the proposed Geopark). Charles M. Sternberg visited the canyon in the 1930s and described many track specimens. Before the flooding of these sites due to the building of the Peace Canyon Dam and W.A.C. Bennett Dam, scientific expeditions from Alberta and Ontario were able to revisit them, and describe further specimens, including the oldest bird then tracks known, and interesting evidence of dinosaur herding behaviour. They succeeded in salvaging some trackways, and making replicas of others. Meanwhile, just to the south of the proposed Geopark, on the banks of the Narraway River, a remarkable and remote, steeply dipping trackway site had been discovered, including an interesting change of dinosaur walking direction. When a National Geographic team was escorted to the site to film it in the early 1990s, and before it could be formally studied, it was found in shreds at the bottom of the cliff. Occasional dinosaur footprint finds were made in the Tumbler Ridge coal mines, but unfortunately these were the “bad old days” in which most would be destroyed rather than reported (one was relocated to the Britannia Bay Mining Museum).

Consequently, at the dawn of the millennium the general perception was that the region’s dinosaur footprints were flooded or had disintegrated. Therefore, when two local children, Mark Turner and Daniel Helm, correctly identified a dinosaur trackway just below Tumbler Ridge on the banks of Flatbed Creek in 2000, this was significant, and the media interest which followed this story helped put Tumbler Ridge back on the map as more than just a dying coal-mining town. The subsequent explosion of discoveries in many creeks and canyons, in the alpine, at industrial sites, and at coal mines has been well documented in the scientific literature and the popular media. Many have been relocated to the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre.

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The tracks of ankylosaurs (armoured dinosaurs) predominate. A remarkable ankylosaur footprint size

range has been encountered, from baby to huge.

Next in frequency are theropod tracks. Those close to Tumbler Ridge are small or medium sized, but those both from older rocks in the area, and from the youngest rocks, are significantly bigger.

Tyrannosaurid prints and trackways (the only known site in the world) are of particular interest.

Large ornithopod trackways (left) with skin impressions (right) are also found, as are crocodilian, turtle, avian and invertebrate tracks.

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The first reported dinosaur bone in British Columbia was found beside the boys’ ankylosaur trackway in 2001. In 2002 the first accumulation of dinosaur bones in British Columbia was discovered. While not articulated, these included dinosaur bones from a number of groups including theropods, ornithopods and ankylosaurs. In addition to dinosaur bones and teeth this locality produced crocodilian armour, turtle shell and bones, fish including a freshwater ray, a variety of invertebrates, and an abundance of plant material. Over two hundred bones were removed from this site during the first three years of excavation. These bones were much older than the well-known Alberta material (93 million years as opposed to 65-74 million years) and thus were the oldest known dinosaur skeletal material in western Canada. Being from the Turonian Age, they provide a window on vertebrate fossils, which are globally rare from this period.

Subsequent prospecting in younger rocks, at 75-73 million years old still older than the Alberta dinosaurs, has yielded further sites. Several hundred bones have been removed from these localities, including one articulated hadrosaur specimen surrounded by scores of shed juvenile tyrannosaur teeth. Teeth of the sickle-clawed dromaeosaurs and troodontids as well as hadrosaur jaws, fish scales, and champsosaur vertebrae have also been documented and recovered. At the hadrosaur excavation site there is evidence in the form of microtektites of a significant extraterrestrial event (currently undergoing research). In 2013 further excavation revealed the presence of multiple dinosaurs, indicating a dinosaur bonebed, which awaits excavation.

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Also in these Cretaceous rocks is the final fossil strength of the Tumbler Ridge area: abundant plant life and invertebrate life. In the latter category are lobsters, oysters, inoceramids and starfish impressions.

A great transformation took place during the early part of the Late Cretaceous Period (Cenomanian), from a landscape initially dominated by redwoods, ferns, cycads, seed ferns, horsetails and ginkgo, to one dominated by angiosperms (flowering plants). These are all well represented in local rocks. This change took place around 97-95 million years ago, the age of some of the rocks around Tumbler Ridge.

The youngest bedrock in the area is about 73 million years old. Overlying it there is just the overlying Quaternary material associated with the Ice Ages and glaciation. For the intervening 70 million years, either there was no deposition of sediments, or else what was deposited has been eroded away.

Much of the last two million years of regional history has been dominated by ice, erosive for the most part, hence there is little record except for the last Wisconsin glaciation period. There were two great Pleistocene Ice Sheets: the Laurentian, which spread south and west from the polar regions, and the Cordilleran, which spread eastwards from the Rocky Mountains. Much of the present topography and geomorphology is the product of these glaciers and their subsequent melting. This includes moraines, terraces, the remnants of old lakeshores, and the glacial till that makes local gardens difficult to dig. Small sand dunes on the Murray Canyon Overlook trail speak of accumulations of windblown sand off the glaciers. In places there are deep, parallel glacial striations on bedrock far away from the mountains. As the glaciers melted they left an ice-free corridor between them, and a massive lake was impounded against the retreating Laurentide Ice Sheet. Known as Glacial Lake Peace, its arms extended well up what is now the Murray River valley, submerging what is now the Tumbler Ridge town-site. The Ice-free Corridor provided a possible avenue for the peopling of the continent from the northwest. An 11 000 year old bison skull has been discovered within the proposed Geopark in a gravel pit. Isostatic rebound has subsequently caused at least one river to change its course. One question that is sometimes asked is why the Rockies to the southeast (Banff and Jasper) and to the northwest (Muskwa Kechika) are higher than those in the Tumbler Ridge area. Those areas tend to have more massive quartzite and limestone strata underlying the other rocks. These are more resistant to erosion, and have a tendency to form great cliffs. The Tumbler Ridge rocks in general are finer grained and are more prone to erosion. This provides a significant benefit for hikers and lovers of mountain scenery. The High Rockies invite admiration from the valley bottoms, and summit ascents by the technically expert extreme adventurer. By contrast the Tumbler Ridge mountains are accessible in their entirety, and can be enjoyed with relative ease from their ridge-tops and summits, arguably a more complete and fulfilling experience.

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Current landforms range from glaciated high summits through a variety of mountainous topography to plateaux and deep valleys, with a number of types of lakes and a preponderance of magnificent waterfalls. Below the treeline much of the region is forested, with rocks exposed in canyon and waterfall settings.

3. Listing and description of geological sites within the proposed Geopark Most of the accessible sites are to be found in a north-south band through the centre of the area. The far western and far eastern portions have fewer sites, but respectively represent the main catchment areas of the fossil fish / marine reptiles and dinosaur bones and tracks. Sites are divided into four categories:

A) Accessible B) Potentially accessible in future C) Difficult access D) Restricted

Accessible destinations

These sites form the core adventure attractions of the proposed Geopark, and have been divided here for convenience into twenty-one destination areas (forty-three geosites). 1: FLATBED CREEK: CABIN POOL DINOSAUR TRACKS, OVERHANGING ROCK POOL, TOP POOL,

FLATBED FALLS, MINI-FALLS Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with BC Rec Sites and Trails; District of Tumbler Ridge Access: This constellation of sites on Flatbed Creek lies within a few kilometres of Tumbler Ridge. Hiking trails lead down to creek level, ranging from 500 metres to 2 kilometres in length. The trip to Cabin Pool and back is 3 kms. The main trailhead area is a large roadside pullout off the highway. Features: Flatbed Creek passes below Tumbler Ridge. In its meanderings it forms pools and small falls where it passes over resistant Cretaceous sandstone layers. The furthest upstream is Top Pool – good swimming. Next is Overhanging Rock Pool (below left), suitable for jumping at times, good swimming and rock scenery. On the far bank of the creek between Top Pool and Overhanging Rock Pool are “the oysterbeds”. Inoceramids have been found here too. Next is Cabin Pool, made famous by its dinosaur tracks, which are the subject of tours by the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation in summer – a good site for studying sedimentology too. The tracks number about 200, although only about twenty are readily seen by non-experts. Theropod tracks with dew-claw impressions are of special interest. Across the creek and a short distance downstream is the original ankylosaur trackway discovered by two local boys in 2000. Flatbed Falls (below centre) provides the highest drop, a popular picnic area. There is a substantial log shelter near the falls, suitable for outdoor education purposes. The Mini-Falls is another pool-jumping and swimming spot with opportunities for geological education – there are dinosaur tracks and fossil worm burrows here too, but on the far side of the creek and thus accessible only at low water (to date these have not been developed as a tourist attraction). Flatbed Canyon, from the Lions Campground at the bottom end up to Top Pool forms a popular backcountry ski in winter – return distance is 10 kms. Additional interesting geology can be appreciated when on skis (below right), and there is potential to create a winter educational brochure featuring this.

Concerns: Flatbed Falls and Mini-Falls are sometimes used as party-spots, a potential conflict with tourism. Caution is needed when jumping into pools or crossing the creek.

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Interpretation: TRMF conducts guided tours to Cabin Pool dinosaur tracks. WNMS trail brochures interpret these trails. There is potential for developing a winter ski brochure for Flatbed Canyon. There are plans to coalesce all these trails, and to add them to the TR Point Trail and Wolverine Ski Trails past Lost Haven Cabin, to form a 27.5 km long running-hiking trail that almost encircles Tumbler Ridge, while never crossing a road. This would become a Geopark feature, as most of the attractions are geological in nature.

2: WOLVERINE RIVER DINOSAUR TRACKSITE Authority: Crown Land; trail registered with BC Rec Sites and Trails Access: Trailhead is close to Highway 29, near Wolverine River bridge, about 5 kms from Tumbler Ridge. The 500 metre hiking trail was built and is maintained by the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, and is registered with BC Rec Sites & Trails. The trail requires active maintenance as parts of it are on a mud-slope that is prone to erosion. The trail passes beneath a railway bridge near the trailhead. A wooden bridge has been built to cross an erosion gully. A rustic staircase with a rope handrail eases hikers down a steep section. The trail then leads beside the river to a relatively hard sandstone ledge which has been exposed through volunteer labour, and is repeatedly swept clean each summer. Features: Cretaceous theropod and ankylosaur tracks and trackways are the main attraction, along with a number of areas of dinosaur skin impressions. Up to forty prints can be identified under optimal lighting conditions. The tracks are shallow, and the harsh daytime sunlight may lead to disappointment. Night-time visits are best, with lanterns to provide angled, controlled lighting. Close by are exquisitely preserved angiosperm leaves. Concerns:

1) The site has been subject to vandalism - the most impressive footprint was removed, and later recovered by the RCMP.

2) Flood conditions submerge the rock surface. 3) The river is close by, therefore care needs to be taken, especially at

night. 4) Tour groups therefore do not exceed 10 in size, and children should be

closely monitored. 5) The trail is moderately strenuous; some visitors struggle with nocturnal

hiking. Interpretation: The Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation conducts guided lantern tours in the summer months, once water levels have receded to a safe level. Departure times vary according to sunset times.

3: TUMBLER POINT / WOLVERINE TRAILS TO LOST HAVEN Authority: Combination of Crown Land; trail registered with BC Rec Sites and Trails, and District of Tumbler Ridge trail. Access: Easy access close to town. Tumbler Point trail is 3 kms; there are 7 kms of trails around the Lost Haven Cabin, starting from Golf Course clubhouse, which also serve as cross country ski trails in winter. Features: Fairly level, easy trails close town that offer views of the valleys of the Murray River, Flatbed Creek, Wolverine River, with distant mountain views. A spur leads down to the banks of the Murray River, where there is evidence of riverine geology – slumps, slides, flood channels, erosive features etc. Lost Haven Cabin is the hub of the ski trail system and is suitable for outdoor education. Combining the Flatbed trails with these trails into a single 27.5 km trail is being planned for spring 2014. Concerns: Pine beetle infestation may create safety hazards in future, and selective logging may be needed. Interpretation: Standard Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society interpretive brochures.

4: QUALITY CANYON / QUALITY FALLS

Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with BC Rec Sites and Trails Access: Trailhead parking areas are signposted off Hwy 52, 6 and 9 kilometres from Tumbler Ridge respectively. Quality Canyon trail is 6 kms (return distance) which includes a loop to the mouth of Quality

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Creek, and a descent into the canyon. The trail is rated as strenuous, both because of steep sections and elevation change, and because it is necessary to descend via a fixed rope to get into the canyon. Quality Falls trail is 2.5 kms (return distance, out-and-back trail) and is rated easy, although there is some elevation change at the far end. Features: Like many other tributaries of the Murray River in the region, Quality Creek evolves from being a placid watercourse in the forest to a tumbling creek with waterfalls, and cutting a deep canyon. Parts of its descent are accessible via these two trails. Quality Falls is ten metres high, but the ambience in the small canyon at the foot of the falls is disproportionate to its size. The lower part of Quality Canyon, accessed via the Quality Canyon trail, is arguably the most spectacular geological feature close to Tumbler Ridge. Symmetrical 60 metre high cliffs tower above the creek; the falls at the head of this canyon make for a fine swimming hole. It is apparent that the waterfall has cut deeply into the rock and was once much higher. At the very bottom of the canyon there is a smaller waterfall in another splendid setting, which is accessible for those who are not comfortable descending the rope into the canyon. Quality Mouth, where it enters the Murray River provides a pleasant riverside contrast, with fishing opportunities. Much of the trail is along an historic pack trail route, used early in the 20

th century. This area

was scheduled for logging, but co-operation between WNMS and the logging company allowed the proposed cut-block to be shifted, and the trail to be preserved. Between Quality Falls and Quality Canyon is a stretch of creek, beside which BC’s first dinosaur dig occurred. It also features many dinosaur footprints. These areas have not been opened to tourists. Concerns: Flash floods are possible, especially after heavy thunderstorms. Signage and brochure text warn about this possibility, as well as the possibility of rock falls from the steep cliffs in the canyon, especially after rains. Some may struggle with descending the fixed rope section down a steep embankment. Signs warn hikers that this is an at-own-risk activity. Local climbers inspect the ropes to ensure that they remain safe. The Quality Falls trail was built in the early 2000s; portions of the rustic staircase sections were showing signs of wear, and were replaced in 2013. Pine beetle infestation occurs in trailside forest – danger trees have been cut down. Interpretation: WNMS brochures are provided in trailhead boxes and on the WNMS website, interpreting both trails and guiding hikers with maps and text. Simple signage at Quality Falls also interprets the geology. One advantage of these contrasting trails (one easy and popular, the other a true wilderness adventure) is that they are so close to town.

5: MURRAY CANYON OVERLOOK / TEPEE FALLS Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with BC Rec Sites and Trails Access: Roadside trailheads on Hwy 52, 30 and 35 kms respectively from Tumbler Ridge. The hiking trails to these destinations are each about 3 kms long (5-6 kms return distance). Both are relatively flat and are rated easy.

Features: The first part of the Murray Canyon Overlook trail is through old spruce – aspen forest. Then the trail crests a ridge and breaks out into the open, with expansive views of the Murray River valley and the mountains in the distance. It then follows an old game trail along the top of grassy 200 metre high slopes, through changing views, to a final viewpoint. An archaeological artifact was found right on the trail-

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bed in 2012, indicating a long history of use. The Murray River valley seen from these vantage points is a geomorphologist’s delight, with evidence of various lacustrine Pleistocene terraces and erosion events. The Tepee Falls trail leads through forest to a number of vantage points where Tepee Creek hurtles off a sandstone cliff into a dramatic canyon (Cretaceous, Cardium Formation) with enormous fallen sandstone blocks, in which it tumbles repeatedly before finally entering the Murray River. A spur leads to creek level above the falls, and another to the final viewpoint of the Murray River. Dinosaur tracks occur on some of the sandstone blocks in the base of the canyon. Concerns: There was major pine beetle infestation in the pine forests of the first half of the original Murray Canyon Overlook trail. Most of this had to be logged in 2013 through the Community Forest program, and the trail was then rerouted so as to avoid the logged section. Small portions of the Tepee Falls trail are also due to be logged. The Tepee Falls trail was built in the early 2000s, and in its first half crosses a number of wet areas which were bridged. These bridges showed signs of wear, and were replaced in 2013. There are steep drop-offs at the Tepee Falls viewpoints, where care is needed.

Interpretation: Murray Canyon Overlook trail (left) has a detailed self-guiding brochure, much of which interprets geological and geomorphological history. Tepee Falls (right) trail has a standard WNMS brochure with information on geological features.

6: BERGERON FALLS / BERGERON CLIFFS

Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with BC Rec Sites and Trails. Access: Eight kms from Tumbler Ridge on Hwy 29 a sign-posted gravel road leads for another 8 kms to the shared trailhead. The falls and cliffs trails share the first 500 metres, then diverge. The cliffs trail is 3 kms long (6 kms return). Elevation change is 400 metres – this is steadily gained, and results in the trail being classified as strenuous. There are a couple of short spur trails to geological viewpoints. Hiking to the three viewpoints at the top of Bergeron Falls and back is just under 10 kms, rated as moderate. A Circular Route was constructed in 2011, allowing access to the base of the falls, the Murray River, and a historic pack trail. Counter-clockwise hiking direction is recommended. There are steep ascents, and the trail is rated strenuous, with a distance of 12 kms. Near the top of the falls there are short side trails to Dipper Falls, the Hidden Valley and Scalpel Ridge. Hiking all the spurs makes for over 13 kms of hiking. A Connector Trail links the falls and cliffs trails; combining the two makes for a long day-hike of 16 kms. Riverboat access on the Murray River to the mouth of Bergeron Creek allows the base of Bergeron Falls to be visited by joining the trail for 1.5 kms. Features: Bergeron Cliffs is the thick hard sandstone band (river deposits of the Cretaceous Kaskapau formation) which forms a prominent landmark seen from Tumbler Ridge, or when approaching town along Hwy 52. The trail follows the top of the cliffs as they dip upward, providing for striking views and good rock scenery. In one place there is a spur to the bottom of the cliffs, where there are interesting overhangs and attractive rock features. At 100 metres tall, Bergeron Falls is the highest accessible waterfall in north-eastern British Columbia. The creek drops into a large amphitheatre in a series of falls. The walls of the amphitheatre display a transition from softer shale at the base to the resistant sandstone forming the lip. The other features along the trail provide contrast with this spectacular site: an historic pack trail leads to the bank of the Murray River where a spring-fed creek tumbles into it, a rustic picnic area on the riverbank provides potential camping opportunities, a knife-edge ridge (remains of a moraine) makes for unusual hiking, the Hidden Valley offers delightful formations for the connoisseur of rock scenery, Dipper Falls and Scalpel Ridge provide creekside access and benches in impressive canyon settings. One km along the trail, tiny Vomer Falls provides a pleasant diversion. Dinosaur tracks occur in the creek. Large ornithopod specimens have been retrieved and flown to the PRPRC.

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Concerns: The main concern, of being stranded at Bergeron Falls due to flash floods, was addressed in 2012 when a 17-metre long aluminum bridge was flown in by helicopter and positioned in place across the creek. Both trails have viewpoint areas where the trail passes close to large vertical drop-offs. Signage warns about the associated hazards, and certain hazardous areas have been barricaded. There were concerns about the increasingly difficult nature of the approach to the base of the falls through the canyon, where rock scrambling skills were required. Despite the necessary signage, many hikers felt uncomfortable with this portion, and some turned back. Accordingly, a trail was constructed in 2013 that bypassed the canyon. Three creek crossings are still required to reach the base of the falls, and one creek crossing on the Circular Route is close to where Bergeron Creek enters the Murray River. Signs warn that these crossings are impassable during flood conditions. Rock falls are possible at the base of the falls. Signs warn hikers not to throw rocks off the top of the cliffs as there may be others below. Interpretation: Standard WNMS brochures with trail maps interpret these trails, featuring the geology.

7: BULLMOOSE MARSHES WETLAND INTERPRETIVE AREA / GWILLIM LAKE Authority: Bullmoose Marshes (below left) is on Crown Land; trails registered with BC Rec Sites and Trails; Gwillim Lake (below right) is managed by BC Parks. Access: Bullmoose Marshes: Trails are signposted on Hwy 29, approximately 25 kms from Tumbler Ridge. There is a short access road to the parking area at the trailhead for the Sora (400 metre return distance) and Bittern (1300 metre return distance) trails. The entire Sora trail is board-walked, 36” wide. Much of the Bittern trail is board-walked; the rest is wood-chipped. Gwillim Lake: a paved road leaves Hwy 52, 45 kms from Tumbler Ridge, to the Provincial Park campground and day use area. The 1 km Lakeshore Trail is rated easy.

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Features: Bullmoose Marshes: An area once unwisely logged, and unsuccessfully revegetated, has become an alluring natural history wetland destination. Beaver action causes channels of Bullmoose Creek to dam up, creating excellent habitat for wildlife. The trails and viewing platforms, rebuilt and enhanced in 2013 through a partnership between WNMS and Ducks Unlimited, take viewers over and beside the Bullmoose Marshes to viewing platforms. Nest boxes and a nest island have been installed, used by Goldeneye and Canada Goose respectively. The Junior Rangers have had an interest in the site, and have helped maintain it. Library programs and the TRMF’s Northern Wilderness Camps have also chosen this site because of its easy access and abundant educational potential. Gwillim Lake: A popular provincial park for camping, picnicking, fishing and water-sports, with a large lake. A number of archaeological sites have been found on its shores. There is potential to interpret archaeological heritage, how the lake was formed, creek action, and surrounding topography, including views of the mountains in the distance, through interpretive signage at the parking areas and along the Lakeshore Trail. A School District 59 educational camp on the south shore of the lake has cabins, central cooking area etc, and can be booked for group use. Concerns: Bullmoose Marshes: The cleared areas near the trailhead form a rustic camping area and sometimes a “party spot”. Concerns about potential vandalism to the boardwalks and trails have not materialized so far. Proclaiming the area a Regional Park has been proposed, which would address these concerns to some degree. Gwillim Lake: nil. Interpretation: Bullmoose Marshes: A self-guiding brochure box is at the trailhead, with a bird list of over 70 species, four species of frog, and one garter snake. Gwillim Lake: BC Parks website, potential for interpretive signage.

8: MT REESOR / MT SPIEKER

Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with Rec Sites and Trails. Access: From Tumbler Ridge, Hwy 29 for 9 kms, then Wolverine Forest Service Road (dirt) for 12 kms, the Perry Creek Road for 13 kms to a fork – left to Mt Reesor, right to Mt Spieker. From the respective trailheads routes lead up Mt Reesor (10 kms return) and Mt Spieker (many options, up to 10 kms). Once past the initial trail sections hikers are on old exploration roads or in trailless alpine. Features: These two mountains are reasonably accessible, and despite their proximity are quite different. The Mt Reesor hike involves a climb up a caribou trail, then a flat stretch along a beautiful geological feature known as the Caribou Highway, a barren ridge of shale (below left). The route then crosses flower-filled alpine meadows before ascending the peak via loose slabs of sandstone. The Mt Spieker hike explores the flat massif of the summit area, with many sandstone rock formations, sandstone pavement, cliffs and tarns, allowing for endless rambling. The Neck is a particularly dramatic area with sandstone pavement (below right) connecting two hills, just twenty metres wide and flanked on either side by vertical cliffs. A coal seam that has been burning for years is located at the northwestern end of the mountain. Ptarmigan sightings are likely. Concerns: Access involved getting permission to pass through the Wolverine Mine with an escort for a few years, but currently is unrestricted. In future if further mining areas are developed, these areas may become more difficult to access. Interpretation: Standard WNMS brochures with trail-maps and geological interpretation..

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9: ALBRIGHT RIDGE

Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with Rec Sites and Trails. Access: From Tumbler Ridge, Hwy 29 for 9 kms, then Wolverine Forest Service Road (dirt) for 54 kms (potholed in many places and rough). 1.5 km trail to tree-line after which hikers are on their own with many options, typically about 15 kilometres total distance. Features: Magnificent alpine scenery, exquisite lakes, one of which is lined by permanent snowfields, karst areas with numerous small caves, Triassic fish and marine reptile fossils. Six summits, knife-edge ridges, extensive alpine plateaux. Concerns: Access road is long and arduous. Remote area. Interpretation: Interpretive brochure is being developed, featuring geological information.

10: HOLZWORTH MEADOWS / WINDFALL LAKE / PINNACLE PEAK Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with Rec Sites and Trails. Access: From Tumbler Ridge: 25 kms on Hwy 29, then 17 kms on Bullmoose Mine road (paved), and onto Windfall Creek Forest Service Road. 13 kms to Holzworth Meadows trailhead, and another 12 kms to trailheads for Windfall Lake and Pinnacle Peak. Holzworth Meadows (below left) involves 5-10 kms of hiking, 250-900 metres of elevation change, moderate to strenuous. Windfall Lake trail (centre) is 10 or more kilometres, elevation change at least 350 metres, strenuous. An extra trail section was constructed in 2012, making for a circular option, the top section of which is in trailless alpine. Pinnacle Peak (below right) is 10 kms return with 670 metres of elevation change, very strenuous.

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Features: The access road includes interesting geological scenery, with impressive rock folding (best seen on the return drive with evening lighting). Near the Windfall Lake / Pinnacle Peak trailheads the cliffs of Mt Crum loom impressively above, featuring an imposing anticline. Holzworth Meadows includes subalpine and alpine meadows, ridge-walking, and the opportunity to climb three peaks, one of which is named Theropod Peak after a dinosaur footprint (Early Cretaceous) discovered near the summit. Windfall Lake offers perhaps the easiest way near Tumbler Ridge to get into magnificent mountain scenery. In addition to the lake (just above treeline) and the surrounding cliffs and peaks, there is a karst area nearby with caves, some of them easily explorable, others very technical. A tight anticline is visible in the rocks above the lake to the west. The lake can serve as a base for longer trips to features like Mt Crum, Tunnel Mountain and the main unnamed peak above the lake. Mississippian coral fossils and Triassic fishes andmarine reptiles occur in the vicinity. Pinnacle Peak is a tough but rewarding ascent. From a distance the climb looks challenging or technical, but can be achieved without difficulty. En route is a Mississippian fossil site which has yielded the best trilobites in the area, in addition to blastoids and crinoids. To the north, there is a very good view of the anticline on Mt. Crum. Small limestone caves can be explored. Towards the summit the tilted strata provide for remarkable views, and the summit cliffs contain fossil coral. Concerns: Pinnacle Peak hiking trail is steep and rough, and not suitable for unfit hikers or those with extreme fear of heights. Windfall Lake trail has boggy sections – if use increases boardwalks will need to be installed. Increased use may also lead to a need for trails in the alpine rather than hikers picking their own way, and more formalized camping zones at Windfall Lake. Exploring caves has inherent dangers – cave localities have not been generally shared. Interpretation: Standard WNMS brochures with trail maps and geological information.

11: HOLE IN THE WALL PROVINCIAL PARK

Authority: BC Parks. Access: Close to roadside, near km 50 on the Sukunka Forest Service Road. A short 50 metre hiking trail in this 140 hectare provincial park leads to the site. Features: Hole in the Wall is a fine example of a resurgence spring, at a contact zone of overlying limestone and underlying sandstone. A strong perennial flow of water emerges from the foot of a high vertical wall of dark blue-grey limestone. The vegetation is predictably lush. Cave diving has not been attempted although it is potentially a possibility. Concerns: Although this park is just within the proposed Geopark boundary, it is a long way by road from Tumbler Ridge (115 ks, via Hwy 29 and then the Sukunka Forest Service Road). The forestry road is shared with industrial traffic and can be busy. Interpretation: Dialogue planned with BC Parks as to how this feature will be interpreted.

12: BARBOUR FALLS / NESBITT’S KNEE FALLS Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with Rec Sites and Trails. Access: Heritage Highway for 15 kms, then follow road to Kinuseo Falls for 20 kms to sign-posted turnoff Trailheads are 3-4 kms farther, a few kms apart. Hiking trails are each about 1 km long (2 km return) with

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spurs that lead to a swimming hole on Barbour Creek and to the base of Nesbitt’s Knee Falls. Both trails are rated easy, other than the steep descent to the base of Nesbitt’s Knee Falls (centre and right).

Features: These two attractive waterfall destinations are approximately halfway between Tumbler Ridge and Kinuseo Falls. As such they make for an ideal break in this journey, and help establish a waterfall theme for the trip. Barbour Falls is on a larger creek, while Nesbitt’s Knee Falls is higher. Both have interesting rock formations (Lower Cretaceous), with impressive steeply bedded strata in the canyon below Barbour Falls. The spur trails provide an extra dimension to these trails as they allow for getting to creek level and the option of swimming when water levels are low. Concerns: There are steep unbarricaded drop-offs near both falls – warning signs are in place. Getting to the base of Nesbitt’s Knee Falls is steep – warning signs are in place. Pine beetle infestation exists in trailside forests – danger trees have been successfully logged. Interpretation: Standard WNMS brochures with trail maps and geological information.

13: KINUSEO FALLS, STONE CORRAL, CANARY FALLS / JADE LAKE Authority: BC Parks. Access: These sites are within Monkman Provincial Park. From Tumbler Ridge, 14 kms on Heritage Hwy, then 51 kms on Murray Forest Service Road (unpaved) to Kinuseo Falls. A wheelchair accessible path leads to the viewpoint platform at the top of the falls. A stiffer trail leads to an upper viewpoint and continues down to river level some distance below the falls, and offers further views. The most dramatic trail is The Chute, which leads steeply down to the base of the falls for the finest views. Access to the bottom of Kinuseo Falls is also by jet-boat up the Murray River. Trailheads for Stone Corral and Canary Falls / Lake Joan are situated 3 kms before Kinuseo Falls. Stone Corral is 4 km long, strenuous, steep in places with some drop-offs. Canary Falls / Lake Joan is a 3 km circular route, also steep in places and strenuous, although the top of the falls can be visited with ease from the trailhead. Features: Kinuseo Falls remains the best known natural attraction in the Tumbler Ridge area, and because it is possible to drive almost to it, it remains very popular. It is a very powerful place where the Murray River drops 70 metres and creates a great cloud of spray in a turbulent pool below. The trails near the falls provide contrasting viewpoints. A dramatic fold is visible in the siltstone beds beside the falls. Stone Corral trail leads into a karst area with a number of attractions en route – lakes and ponds, limestone cliffs and walls, springs, hydrology, vertically oriented strata with interesting folding, two small caves to explore, etc. A vertical wall with an unusual pattern is accessed via a short spur trail – it is filled with fucoids (fossilized impressions of seaweed). Nearby crinoids can be found (Mississippian). This is a unique trail in the region, and deservedly popular amongst fitter hikers. Canary Falls is a short distance below the road, a pretty waterfall. The creek flows into Lake Joan which is likewise attractive. Sulphurous springs discharge into it. Concerns: The Chute to base of Kinuseo Falls is steep, done by many hikers, but not officially approved by BC Parks. There are steep sections on Stone Corral trail, due for repair.

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Interpretation: BC Parks website, potential for more detailed brochures and information on Kinuseo Falls. Sings at viewing platform interpret rock folding and waterfall formation. Stone Corral Karst Interpretive Area brochure, available at trailhead, describes twenty points of interest along the way. Potential for interpretation of archaeological history.

14: THE CASCADES / MONKMAN LAKE / MONKMAN TARNS Authority: BC Parks Access: Hiking trail that starts at Kinuseo Falls campground and leads into the heart of Monkman Provincial Park. 18-20 kms to The Cascades (right) (two campsites en route and two near The Cascades), another 4 kms to Monkman Lake (another campsite), then a rougher trail for another 8 kms with elevation change to Monkman Tarns and a final campsite (this section is strenuous). The Murray River is crossed via a suspension bridge at km 7 on the trail. This is an out-an-back trail with spur trails to the various Cascades. Features: The Cascades – a series of nine waterfalls (six of which are shown below) on Monkman Creek, a highlight of the region. The middle Cascades (McGinnis, Monkman, and Brooks Falls) are formed by the creek flowing over the Monkman Quartzite, an extremely hard bed of quartzite which runs in a NW-SE direction. The upper and lower Cascades are in limestone. The Cascades are typically separated by lake-like widenings in the river. A rustic campsite has been developed opposite Shire Falls. Trails have been built to seven of the Cascades by WNMS volunteers in partnership with BC Parks. The uppermost and lowermost Cascades are not easily accessible. There are a number of other interesting geological features including a very deep cliff-lined lake (which still needs to be scuba-dived) and a large, deep boulder-lined depression with a tarn in its base.

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Monkman Lake (next page, left) – a pleasant, large, shallow lake nestling in the mountains with good views of the high Continental Divide peaks and a BC Parks rustic campsite. Monkman Tarns (next page, right) – multiple lakelets in splendid alpine scenery with options of climbing surrounding peaks. Together these features offer a multi-day hike into protected wilderness to a variety of scenically spectacular, geologically interesting destinations. Concerns: Trail from lake to tarns is rough, not always well-defined. GPS and sat phone recommended. This is a remote area. Interpretation: BC Parks website, potential for more detailed brochures and information.

15: BOULDER GARDENS / SHIPYARD-TITANIC / BABCOCK FALLS Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with Rec Sites and Trails.

Access: From Tumbler Ridge, access is via 21 km of paved highway, then 15-18 kms of unpaved road that is shared with industrial traffic. The three destinations are within a few kilometres of each other. All trailheads are signposted. Boulder Gardens involves a 4 km circular route with a number of short spurs, rated as moderate. Shipyard-Titanic area involves a 3 km (return distance) route also rated moderate. Close by is an easier trail, the Tarn and Towers Trail, which allows scenic viewpoints without much elevation gain, rated easy. Babcock Falls involves a 2 km (return distance) hike, which includes crossing one mining road. This is an easy trail to the falls viewpoint, from where a steeper, moderately difficult trail leads to the pools at the base of the falls. Features: The Boulder Gardens (below) and the Shipyard-Titanic area (next page) on Mt. Babcock feature remarkable rock scenery. This is the result of translational movement of cliff forming sandstones of the Boulder Creek Formation on shallow-dipping strata along a lower layer of softer kaolinite. This has resulted in what is locally known as the “Rift Valley” at the top of the mountain, and multiple rocky ridges, outcrops and formations at lower elevations, where the sandstones have “slid off the edge”. Many of these have subsequently fractured and eroded, yielding more bizarre formations and rock tunnels. These result in unique areas that were little known until recently, but have become a mecca for climbers and hikers. These Cretaceous rocks have yielded dinosaur footprints and bird footprints , which have been the subject of research papers at the PRPRC and exhibits in the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery. As yet unidentified large cone specimens also occur, as do worm burrows. Babcock Falls presents a wild, enchanting destination – the falls are only ten metres high but attractive, and there are further falls immediately downstream.

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Swimming in summer is bracing but fun. The coarse sandstone rocks of the Boulder Creek Formation surrounding the falls were laid down in a high energy environment in which fossil detail is unlikely to be preserved, but large fossilized logs are evident.

Concerns: Parts of the Boulder Gardens and Shipyard-Titanic trails fall with the blast radius of the Quintette Mine. Consultation continues between WNMS and Teck Coal Ltd. to ensure as little disruption to hiking as possible, but parts of the trail may be off-limits to hikers and climbers at times. While sticking to the established trails is relatively safe, these areas do have hazards such as deep cracks – care is needed in exploring here. Babcock Falls (right) trail involves one road crossing. The trail then passes through meadows, where boardwalks were installed ten years ago, but are in need of replacement. Babcock Falls is close to the Peace River Coal Mine. Along the first part of the trail mine traffic can be heard, but as the falls are approached it is hard to believe that one is not deep in the wilderness. The access road for these destinationsis shared with industry, and care is needed in driving. Use of radios and announcing one’s presence to other users are recommended practice. Interpretation: WNMS brochures for Boulder Gardens and Babcock Falls interpret the geology. As the Shipyard-Titanic and Tarn-and-Towers trails are developed, similar brochures will be created. These destinations are all suitable for educational excursions. If mine tours are offered in future by the Peace River Coal Mine, this is close by.

16: WAPITI FALLS / WAPITI LAKE / BOOTSKI LAKE / RED DEER FALLS Authority: BC Parks / Crown Land Access: Heritage Hwy for 50 kms (paved) then industrial roads for another 25 kms (Wapiti Falls and Wapiti Lake), 30 kms (Bootski Lake) and 40 km (Red Deer Falls). 20 km hiking trail to Wapiti Lake (Wapiti Falls are at km 7). 5 km strenuous route to Bootski Lake. 10 km old exploration road to Red Deer Falls.

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Features: Wapiti Lake (right) is in the heart of Wapiti Provincial Park. The hiking trail leads past Wapiti Falls at km 7 to a cabin on Wapiti Lake. A longer hike is possible from here to Onion Lake (just outside the park). Fossil Fish Lake, famous for its Triassic fish and marine reptile fossils, is in Wapiti Provincial Park, but is remote and hard to get to. Bootski Lake (left) is an alpine lake in an area of fine mountain scenery, perhaps the easiest access to big mountains in the region. Mountains

goats are usually seen during the approach. Red Deer Falls (right) is an impressive waterfall on Red Deer Creek. There is fine rock scenery en route, including views into the Red Deer Canyon. All three of these destinations display classic Rocky Mountain Front Ranges scenery, with steeply dipping Mississippian limestones and soaring peaks. Concerns: ATV use to Wapiti Falls eroded the first 7 km of trail; parts of this section have been rerouted or repaired. Bootski Lake is remote; parts of access trail were in an area of forest fire in the 2000s, and may need future rerouting. Interpretation: BC Parks brochure and website info on Wapiti Provincial Park. Potential for brochures interpreting geological phenomena for all three trails.

17: STONY LAKE / KRUGER’S FLATS / LONG LAKE

Authority: Crown Land; trails registered with Rec Sites and Trails; Stony Lake Forestry campground. Access: Stony Lake has a short access road off the Heritage Highway 54 kms from Tumbler Ridge; Kruger’s Flats is accessed from Stony Creek road, one km off Heritage Highway 72 kms from Tumbler Ridge; Long Lake trail starts at roadside pullout on Hiding Creek Road / Monkman Highway 80 kms from Tumbler Ridge. To appreciate the features of the trail at Stony Lake it is necessary to canoe a short distance across the lake, the follow trail for two kilometres (four kms return). Kruger’s Flats trail is 3 kms long (6 kms return) and is shared with ATVs. Long Lake trail is 350 metres in length, and is shared with ATVs. Features: The destinations have less to do directly with geological heritage, and more to do with human history and lake environments. All three were features on the Monkman Pass Highway of the 1930s, and Stony Lake was the first tourist resort in the whole Peace Region, in 1937. Exhibits celebrating this are to be found in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre. Stony Lake trail leads along a preserved 2 km stretch of the Monkman Pass Highway, where the results of plough and scoop and pick-axe can still be seen, and ancient corduroy covers one creek crossing. The remains of an old bridge are also to be seen. Kruger’s Flats trail follows a well preserved 3 km stretch of the old Monkman Pass Highway to where Emil Kruger used to operate a ranch and mink farm in the 1930s. The enchanting remains of four cabins (right) and much bric-a-brac are to be found..

Long Lake (left) is well named – 1000 metres long and under 60 metres wide. It is attractive to wildlife and large mammals, as well as Trumpeter Swans, and a variety of waterfowl are often seen. The trail ends at a rustic picnic site with barbeque pit on a promontory overlooking the lake. It is suitable for swimming, and a pleasant stop for travellers between Tumbler Ridge and Grande Prairie.

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Concerns: These destinations are in a relatively remote area despite being close to highways. Vandalism of recreational sites appears to be more common here than in areas closer to Tumbler Ridge. Interpreting the history through exhibits in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre seems more practical. Interpretation: Much has been written about the heroic efforts of the Monkman Pass Highway pioneers. These sections of preserved trail offer the finest opportunity to connect with this history and transport oneself back in time. A WNMS brochure provides information on all three destinations, and another brochure is specific to Stony Lake.

18: THE MURRAY RIVER

The navigable sections of the Murray River extend from the bottom of Kinuseo Falls to beyond the northern boundary of the proposed Geopark. From the headwaters in the Bulley Glacier, these waters run to the Arctic Ocean via the Pine, Peace, Slave and Mackenzie Rivers, without encountering any man-made obstruction or barrier. Jet boat tours up the Murray River from Tumbler Ridge to Kinuseo Falls are a popular summertime activity, and a number of operators provide this service for tourists. The hour long trip (one way) is pleasant, but there are few attractions en route other than the magnificence of the final destination. Some rock outcrops are encountered, and there is potential for jet-boat operators to include geological

information during these popular tours. By contrast, a trip downstream from Tumbler Ridge has many attractions, including boating through the Murray Canyon with its intriguing sandstone formations, an impressive example of rock faulting, and access to many waterfalls via short hikes up the creek-beds.

While Bergeron Falls is the best known, access to Quantum Falls (left) and Quillon Falls (right), and farther downstream even potentially to Salt Falls and Skunk Falls is possible. Discussions are underway between the steering committee and riverboat operators to add this option to their tourist packages. Canoeists and kayakers enjoy the easy stretches (Grade 1) between Kinuseo Falls and Tumbler Ridge, while the stretch below town is for more experienced canoeists, and is at least Grade 2. It is three days from Tumbler Ridge down to the next bridge by canoe.

19: COAL MINES

In the days of the Quintette and Bullmoose Mines, both operated regular summer tours in the 1990s, with off-season tours available by special appointment. It is hoped to reintroduce this concept, and discussions are underway between the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark steering committee and Anglo American and Teck Coal Ltd. in this regard. The existence of dinosaur tracks exposed on the footwalls of Anglo’s Peace River Coal Mine (right) might form an added attraction.

20: WIND ENERGY

The turbines of the Quality Wind Project are an obvious sight when approaching Tumbler Ridge on Hwy 52, as the road passes between these massive structures. Twenty kilometres from town there is a roadside pullout in the heart of the wind turbine area with views of the mountains in the distance. This would form an ideal locality for a roadside interpretive exhibit explaining diverse aspects of wind energy and the Quality Wind Project. Discussions are underway between the Steering Committee and Capital Power in this regard.

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21: LOOK-OUT POINTS / ROADSIDE VIEWPOINTS There are a few elevated points which give good views of the topography of the proposed Geopark: The Bald Spot: a steep, grassy, open area on the ridge immediately above Tumbler Ridge; a steep trail leads to good views of town and part of proposed Geopark area. Thunder Mountain and Mt Puggins: old fire-towers provide views of the southern and northern parts of proposed Geopark respectively; rough

roads provide access. Mt Hermann: a rough road provides access to a subalpine summit with views of the mountains; it is an option for those who are not able to hike. Impressive large anticlines are visible from the roadside on Mt Crum (above right) and Little Mt Becker (below right). The ultimate “look-out point” is a tour by helicopter. A local helicopter company offers flights in the region, to destinations such as Kinuseo Falls, The Cascades, Bergeron Falls, Monkman Glacier, etc. A one hour flight allows for a grand tour of many of the finest geological features within the proposed Geopark.

Potentially accessible destinations

These sites are not currently easily accessible, but have the potential for future access Skunk Falls (right): spectacular destination; trail access is challenging but may improve in future, easier access from Murray River is possible.

Salt Falls (above right) and Salt Canyon (above left and centre): spectacular hiking and canyon-crawling; no formal trail access but access from Murray River is possible. Bullmoose Falls: cross country skiing – 18 kms return.

Bullmoose Mountain: potentially accessible via old exploration roads, large mountain-goat population with natural trails made by goats. CNRL site: dinosaur trackways, may become an accessible site for guided tours once gas drilling operations are completed (left). Bearhole Lake Provincial Park: large protected area of wetlands and forest on Kiskatinaw Plateau. Flatbed-Kinuseo isostatic rebound area: canoeing along floor of old river valley.

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Difficult access (for the intrepid adventurer) Bulley Glacier, Monkman Glacier, Bulley Glacier Falls, Bulley Glacier Peak. Wolverine Falls, Unnamed Cascades, Tunnel Falls, Imperial Canyon. Upper and Lower Blue Lakes, Paxton Lake, Lupin Lake, Hook Lake, Mt Bulley, Mt Barton, Paxton Peak, Castle Mountain, Shark’s Fin (right), The Fang, Mt Crum, Mt Palsson. Caving areas: Windfall Lake area, Albright Ridge area, Hunca Munca Cave, The Sunken Lakes. A dinosaur trackway site discovered in 2013, two kilometres up a remote and challenging canyon already known as Dinosaur Gorge.

Restricted destinations:

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The Big Spring (resurgence spring, private property) Imperial Spring: too environmentally sensitive Access to parts of Boulder Gardens / Titanic Trail may be restricted during coal mining operations . Some areas contain fossil sites that we are not able to disclose in a publicly accessible document, for protection from the threats of vandalism and theft. Many of the products are to be found in the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre collections and the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery exhibits. We will be happy to share details on these localities with the Global Geoparks Network and UNESCO. These destinations may feature Cretaceous dinosaur bones and / or tracks, cycads, angiosperms, redwood, gingko, seed ferns; Triassic fish, marine reptiles, ammonites, belemnites, crustaceans; Mississippian invertebrates.

4. Details on the interest of these sites in terms of their international, national, regional or local value The Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre is the only facility in British Columbia dedicated to vertebrate palaeontology and is recognized nationally and internationally. While all the palaeontological finds are of local and regional importance, many are of national importance and some are of international importance. Examples of the latter include the only known example of tyrannosaurid trackways, the unique features associated with the excavation of British Columbia’s first articulated dinosaur (many shed juvenile tyrannosaur teeth suggesting herd scavenging behaviour), dinosaur trackways of Turonian age, one of the largest collections of Triassic fish and marine reptiles, the only three known examples of a new subfamily of coelacanth, etc. The Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre includes in its collections specimens from the wider region and from other parts of the province. These include data from the internationally significant Kakwa dinosaur footprint site (right), and a replica of the only three sauropod trackways in Canada (left).

The biggest marine reptiles in the world (above) are to be found north of the proposed Geopark, and plans call for these to be excavated and removed to Tumbler Ridge, where they will be exhibited. Such exhibits, although from just outside the proposed Geopark boundaries, will add to the international reputation and importance of the exhibits within the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery.

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The occurrence within the proposed Geopark of Pre-Cambrian to Cretaceous rocks and fossils allows such geological stories to be told in a museum setting in an attractive community in the foothills wilderness of northwestern Canada, right in the area in which the rocks and fossils occur. This is at least a nationally significant educational phenomenon. Aesthetically, some of the waterfalls (Kinuseo, The Cascades) are of national or international significance. The remainder are of regional or provincial significance when considered alone, but together, considering the accessibility that has been developed for them, they are of national significance. Aside of their fossil content, the mountainous, wilderness nature of much of the proposed Geopark makes it aesthetically spectacular. The fact that most summits can be attained without technical gear is regarded as an advantage – these are mountains to get on top of, to enjoy from the summits, not just the valleys. This, too, is of national importance. The Boulder Gardens and Titanic form a special site within the proposed Geopark, with an unusual geological history that is at least nationally or continentally significant. Almost all the rocks are of sedimentary origin, and some of them are fortuitously exposed close to Tumbler Ridge in canyons. These sites are suitable for educational geological field tours in addition to the already popular dinosaur footprint tours.

C - GEOCONSERVATION 1. Current or potential pressure on the proposed Geopark In theory, potential pressures include coal mining natural gas development wind energy projects road construction forestry climate change effects. Fortunately, even in combination, these do not pose significant threats to the proposed Geopark. Both the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society have established an exemplary track record of constructive dialogue with industry. Coal: The coal mines exist in a northwest-southeast trending belt in the front ranges. To date these have not been close to critically important geological features, with the one exception of the Boulder Gardens and Titanic (described below). Some attractive alpine areas and summits do become inaccessible during mine development, but typically become accessible again at the end of the lifespan of the mine. Many palaeontological discoveries have emanated from the mines and have enriched the knowledge of the area as a result. Old mining exploration roads now form the routes of some of the area’s hiking trails. The Boulder Gardens and Shipyard / Titanic are in an area that is geologically unusual (translational movement on a soft layer of kaolinite which has caused a rift valley at the summit of Mt Babcock and vast, impressive rock exposures where parts of the mountain have slipped off the edge). Exquisite hiking opportunities abound, along with outstanding rock climbing. A hiking trail has been developed through the Boulder Gardens, and a route more recently established to the Shipyard / Titanic. The planned Teck coal mine approaches this area closely. Co-operation between the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society and Teck Ltd is underway to ensure that the critically important parts of the Boulder Gardens and Shipyard / Titanic are not affected. The parts of the area that fall within the safety blast zone may need to be temporarily closed during mine development and operation, and reopened to the public afterwards. This represents a typical example of constructive co-operation with industry. Natural gas: There haven’t been any cases of natural gas exploration or sites affecting geologically significant sites. Typically, such sites are in forested areas and tend to uncover areas of bedrock exposure. Again, this has been fortuitous: dinosaur bones and tracksites have been the fortunate result, and many of the companies have gone to enormous lengths to bring specimens to the museum, with

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resulting major in-kind donations. One site in particular may be suitable for guided tours once the well-site has been shut down. Oil and gas pipelines do cross the area, and have the potential to spill (this hasn’t happened to date in the area, although it has in other areas of Canada). Wind energy: A number of wind energy projects have been proposed. To date, only one has been built. Some of these have been proposed on previously pristine mountain ranges, sometimes in the areas that contain the fossil fishes and marine reptiles. Successful objections have been lodged to such developments. Instead, there has been active support for proposals that are close to existing infrastructure and are on already disturbed land. The Quality Wind Project that has been developed is of this kind. The Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation has entered into the first agreement of its kind in British Columbia with the company concerned (Capital Power) according to which any palaeontological discoveries will be reported to the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre palaeontologists. Powerlines do affect some visual quality objectives, but this is regarded as a small price to pay for the development of clean energy. Roads: There are no major road developments planned, other than to the new coal mines. Old unused roads typically get deactivated. A number of road cuttings have yielded fossil discoveries. Forestry: By its nature, forestry blocks occur in forested areas, and in the proposed Geopark do not occur in any geologically significant areas, although visual quality objectives may be affected by cutblocks in the mountain areas. The karst areas in the proposed Geopark area are not threatened by forestry practices. Timber harvesting may affect some of the hiking trails to geological destinations such as waterfalls. Typically in such situations the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society has worked with the logging companies to minimize any damage (an example is the trail to Quality Canyon – the cutblock was shifted so as to preserve the trail). The discovery of the Stone Corral area in 1999 led to the boundary of Monkman Provincial Park being redrawn so as to incorporate it – Canfor had been scheduled to log part of this area but magnanimously agreed to cancel these plans so that the area could be protected. Climate change: If current global warming trends continue, glaciers will continue to shrink. The current Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic can be viewed as an effect of global warming. The Murray Canyon Overlook trail to an interesting geological destination (geomorphology) is an example of a hiking trail that passed through beetle-infested pine forest, which needed to be logged. The Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society worked with the logging company to minimize any effects and to reroute the trail. Pine beetle infestation does not damage any geological sites or destinations directly, but does affect some of the trails which pass through pine forest to reach them, and involves increased work in maintaining them. Increased risk of fires with a combination of more dead trees and warmer conditions poses a potential problem, one that is shared with many communities in northern Canada. Air and water quality are of a relatively high standard in the area. Use of all-terrain vehicles above tree-line is not permitted on some mountains (violations occur but are not frequent). Littering and vandalism at some destinations does occur but is generally a manageable problem. Waterfalls are typically protected from development and pressure by being in remote canyons. Palaeontological sites are not yet fully protected in British Columbia, and there have been instances of vandalism; this is something the palaeontologists in Tumbler Ridge have had an active role in addressing (as described in next section). In summary, while pressures on geological sites may exist in the proposed Geopark area, they are minimal. The one exception is the Boulder Gardens and Shipyard / Titanic area, and that potential area of contention has been addressed through consultation and co-operation with industry.

2. Current status in terms of protection of geological sites within the proposed Geopark Parts of the proposed Geopark are protected within existing provincial parks, such as Monkman Provincial Park, Wapiti Lake Provincial Park, Gwillim Lake Provincial Park, Hole-in-the-Wall Provincial Park and Bearhole Lake Provincial Park.

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The remaining sites are almost all on crown land or within the municipal boundary of the District of Tumbler Ridge. There is the potential for some of these to become regional parks (for example Bullmoose Marshes). It is possible that sites within the Tumbler Ridge Municipal Boundary may receive some protective status in future, although there are no specific current plans. Two sites only are wholly or partially on private land (John Terry ranch and The Big Spring). The “accessible” sites are generally protected by their remoteness and relative inaccessibility (for example the waterfalls in canyons) and are not in need of more formal protection. Most of the hiking trails and their associated destinations are registered through Front Counter BC with the BC Recreation Sites and Trails Program, Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. The trails then show up on the relevant maps so that they are apparent to any proposed industrial development projects, which typically are able to avoid them after consultation. Adequate protection of palaeontological sites has been a vexing issue, as the province of British Columbia has lagged behind other Canadian and North American jurisdictions in adequately recognizing and protecting this heritage. Even in neighbouring Alberta, with some of the strictest laws in the world, vandalism of palaeontological sites continues. The provincial government has been implementing a Fossil Management Framework in an attempt to address this. Input was received from a variety of sources, with the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and the palaeontologists of the Peace Region Resource Centre at the forefront of this process. This is a work in progress. In the meantime, the necessary the only ways to deal with such issues at a local level have been:

1) Liaising actively with industry 2) Not divulging the specific localities of many discovered sites. This has been balanced with the

need for education and tourism by opening two sites to public access close to Tumbler Ridge. 3) The development of a Code of Ethics by the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation with regard to

fossil discoveries. This applies to members and is used to advise visitors to the area. It can be viewed at www.trmf.ca ..

3. Data on the management and maintenance of these sites

A) Accessible: Such sites typically have had hiking trails constructed to them. Examples include the public-accessible dinosaur footprint sites (Cabin Pool and Wolverine River), many waterfalls and alpine summits and alpine lakes, cliffs, viewsites, a wetland area, historic sites etc. Those that are within the provincial parks are managed by BC Parks, with volunteer assistance; those that are on crown land are typically maintained by volunteers of the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, hiring qualified contractors as needed (for example with difficult tree falling or boardwalk construction); a few trails close to Tumbler Ridge are maintained by staff of the District of Tumbler Ridge. Such management includes the provision of highway signage, brochure boxes, trail maintenance (annual clearing of deadfall), removal of garbage and, in the case of heavily used areas, provision of outhouses.

B) Potentially accessible in future: These currently fall into category C but have the potential to be developed and managed as category A sites in future.

C) Difficult access: such sites deep in the wilderness will remain accessible only to the dedicated and hardy. They may involve multiday trips through trackless terrain. It is important that many sites remain in this condition to preserve the true wilderness experience for those who seek it. Such adventurers typically leave no trace of their presence, and such sites do not require active management and maintenance.

D) Restricted: requiring secrecy because of inadequate protection legislation or significant environmental sensitivity - this refers mostly to palaeontological sites. These are maintained in a data base that is not public-accessible. Management of these sites sometimes involves camouflaging them. They are not envisaged as public-accessible field sites, but instead are interpreted through the exhibits in the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and the programs of the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre.

4. Listing and description of non-geological sites and how they are integrated into the proposed Geopark

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Archaeological / prehistoric features In British Columbia, archaeological sites may be protected under the Heritage Conservation Act (the Act). Sites pre-dating 1846 (the assertion of British sovereignty in the territory of British Columbia), whether recorded or otherwise, are automatically protected under the Act, and may not be altered or disturbed without a permit issued under the Act. In some circumstances, sites post-dating 1846 are also protected by the Act from disturbance. Nearly three hundred protected archaeological sites have been identified in the proposed Geopark area. These typically involve the discovery of a few stone artifacts, consisting of flakes produced during tool manufacture or the tools themselves (left), which are generally accessioned into the North Peace Museum in Fort St. John, BC, or left in situ. These sites typically do not lend themselves to tourist visits based on the low numbers of artifacts resulting from the short term use of the majority of the sites.

Instead, the fascinating story of the aboriginal presence in the area dating back over 10 000 years is best told through exhibits and education. Currently such an exhibit is housed in the Community Centre in Tumbler Ridge. It was installed by the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation in collaboration with local archaeologists and First Nations with an historic presence in the area. There is potential for the installation of interpretive displays in areas with a high concentration of archaeological sites in areas that are visited by tourists. Examples include the Kinuseo Falls – Stone Corral area, Gwillim Lake, Stony Lake, and a site near Tumbler Ridge. A stone artifact was recently discovered on the Murray Canyon Overlook trail, a reminder that some of the trails we hike on today have been in use for centuries or millennia. Rita Henderson, a local First Nations artist, has been commissioned by the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation to produce a series of large murals depicting prehistoric or historic First Nations scenes. The first of these adorns the Community Centre and the second the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery.

Historical features

Culturally modified trees (CMTs) (left) are also of First Nations origin but of historic age. CMTs are sensitive to disturbance and are not suitable for public access. Their story is best told through museum exhibits as currently housed in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre. The Flatbed tree carving (right) is a unique feature, being the only one of its kind known away from the coastal areas of British Columbia. It was originally situated near the site of the current the Lions Campgound, a few kilometres from town. It has an unfortunate history of being thoughtlessly, cut down, removed, and then stored in a basement for decades. It was repatriated to Tumbler Ridge and has found a secure home in the

exhibits in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre, where it is sensitively displayed. The exploits and photographs of the first European explorers in the region to document and photograph their findings (Fay, Gray) (below and on following page) are interpreted in the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation’s exhibits in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre.

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A separate exhibit reproduces and interprets the first maps (right) of the area now within the proposed Geopark. The first permanent residents in the area were trappers. Interpretive museum exhibits celebrate their historic presence and their contributions (Don and Catherine Peck, Kate Edwards, Bill Warn, John Terry). The Monkman Pass Highway, an initiative of the late 1930s, is one of the most significant in the area’s history. Parts of the old route have been re-identified and can be hiked (Kruger’s Flats, Stony Lake). Corduroy and an old bridge and cabin remains are identifiable. An interpretive driving tour and hiking route roughly follow the highway the pioneers built through the mountains.

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Museum exhibits (above) celebrate this heritage in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre, along with one on Alex Monkman and another on Euphemia McNaught, pioneer artist of the Peace Region, depicting all her paintings from sites within the proposed Geopark and its surrounding area. Kruger’s Flats is also a hiking destination, the site of an historic ranch and mink farm. Stony Lake was the first tourist destination in the region in 1937. Remains of the old site can be visited, and a museum exhibit in the Community Centre focuses on this aspect of regional history.John Terry’s ranch (right) remains privately owned, and is a potential future tourist destination. A database has been kept of a number of old trappers’ cabins in the proposed Geopark. Exhibits in the community centre celebrate the coal mining history of Tumbler Ridge, and the development of the town of Tumbler Ridge out of the wilderness. Coal mine tours were offered in the 1980s and 1990s, and there is interest in redeveloping these tours.

The coal leaves the community via a railway line that tunnels through the Rocky Mountains. One such tunnel, 7 kms long, is within the proposed Geopark. A railway caboose stands beside the Visitor Centre in Tumbler Ridge, and the surrounding area is beautified

with a garden and benches. The caboose houses the museum’s Railway Exhibit, which tells the intriguing story of this unique railway and the geological challenges faced during its construction.

Canoeing and kayaking opportunities

Murray River, Flatbed East, Flatbed Creek, Wolverine River, Wapiti River: in addition to flat water canoeing and fishing opportunities on many of the lakes in the area, canoeing or kayaking are possible on these waterways.

Cross country skiing opportunities

Winters in Tumbler Ridge are long. Healthy outdoor exercise is feasible through cross country skiing. 10 kms of Wolverine ski trails to Lost Haven Cabin are trackset and groomed. A feature of the area is skiing up canyons to waterfalls. The route up Flatbed Canyon past Flatbed Falls to the Overhanging Rock is a favourite, and permits an appreciate of geology even in winter, with the potential of becoming a tourist attraction within the Geopark.

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Ice climbing opportunities The proposed Geopark contains numerous areas suitable for ice climbing, with many ice-falls as yet unclimbed. There is potential for the development of ice-

climbing tourism.

Rock-climbing and bouldering opportunities

While there are many areas with potential, the Boulder Gardens and Titanic areas are uniquely suitable, and are becoming famous in rock-climbing circles. Many new routes are currently being cleaned and established. This activity obviously is associated with an appreciation of geology.

Mountain running The alpine mountain ridges lend themselves to mountain-running (members of the Canadian national team have trained on them). The Emperor’s Challenge Mountain Run is organized by

the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society and is run each August. It has become the largest off-road running event in British Columbia, with a field capped at 800. It passes through interesting geological scenery on Mt Babcock.

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Wildlife viewing, ornithology, butterflies

The proposed Geopark provides an opportunity for the viewing of some of North America’s large mammals. Grizzly and Black Bear, Mountain Goat (previous page), Caribou, Moose and Elk are all found in their appropriate habitats. Ornithologically the area is interesting: over 230 species have been identified, of which over a hundred are known to breed. A bird checklist has been produced and updated, in collaboration with the Biodiversity Centre for Wildlife Studies. One of the compelling features, related in turn to geology and climate, is the “east meets west’ phenomenon. Ancestral populations were separated during Ice Ages into eastern and western forms; now that the ice has receded, the proposed Geopark area is one of the best studied places where these populations have regained their territory and now meet one another. In some cases they are now separate species, in other cases subspecies. In some cases such distinctions are blurry, and even the birds get confused. In one particular case the research done in Tumbler Ridge led to the splitting of one species (Winter Wren) into two (Winter Wren and Pacific Wren) (previous page, bottom right). This story is told in a museum exhibit. The Bullmoose Marshes form a wetland area that has been developed for hiking and bird-watching. Improved boardwalks were constructed in 2012. The area is also crossed by the migration path of the Golden Eagle (right) along the eastern flanks of the Rockies. For seven months of the year these birds migrate, with peaks in March and October – an estimated 6000 birds are involved. The preferred routes and ridges in the proposed Geopark have not been well studied yet.

The open slopes of the Murray Canyon Overlook trail are visited by many butterflies. Collections have been made and rare species identified. A museum exhibit in the Community Centre interprets these findings and displays regional butterflies.

Stargazing and aurora-watching opportunities

The latitude of the proposed Geopark means that in mid-summer the skies are seldom completely dark. However, between mid-August and late April there are substantial blocks of true darkness which is ideal for astronomy, unless temperatures are too cold.. There are easily accessible high-altitude areas near Tumbler Ridge that offer skies free of light pollution. These conditions make the area a worthy destination for amateur astronomers. The latitude also allows for frequent aurora borealis displays.

D – ECONOMIC ACTIVITY & BUSINESS PLAN

1. Economic activity in the proposed Geopark Tumbler Ridge is the infrastructure hub of the proposed Geopark. Metallurgical coal was responsible for the creation of Tumbler Ridge through the Northeast Coal Project in the 1970s and early 1980s, and it remains the economic mainstay of the community. The first generation of coal mines, the Quintette Mine

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and the Bullmoose Mine, operated for about twenty years. Declining coal prices caused the premature closure of the Quintette Mine, while the Bullmoose Mine fulfilled its predicted lifespan. The second generation of mines, currently in operation, are Walter Energy’s Wolverine Mine and Anglo American’s Peace River Coal Mine. There are plans for Teck Ltd. to reopen the Quintette Mine, and HD Mining’s Murray River Coal project is also anticipated, Whereas all the other mines have involved open pit mining, the Murray River project would involve underground mining, initially utilizing specially skilled workers from China. Most of the coal has been exported to Japan and China, via the railway line through the Rockies to Ridley Island on the Pacific Ocean. Employment in the mines has typically been sufficient to allow for a community of 2500 to 5000 people. The hazards of a one-industry economy prone to boom and bust cycles were made painfully clear in the early 2000s, when both mines closed and the community faced extinction. Diversification since then has taken various forms, including the natural gas industry and wind energy industry. Construction phases typically provide more employment than when these projects are operational. Forestry continues in the area, but the wood typically leaves the region to mills in neighbouring communities. The Community Forest initiative has sought to address this by developing forestry at a local level. In the early 2000s a substantial housing sale at rock-bottom prices allowed for an influx of seniors and retirees, who helped contribute to a new demographic and to the economy. Their numbers have tended to decrease with the resurgence of industry.

Even in combination, these industries generate an economy which is still over-dependent on coal, and is fragile and vulnerable to fluctuations in the coal price. In this context, the palaeontological discoveries and the development of the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and its programs, coupled with development of the hiking trail system, have further diversified the economy through tourism, and contributed significantly to the survival of the community when the first generation of coal mines closed. The creation of the proposed Geopark has obvious potential to continue this trend and provide further diversification opportunities and stablilize the local and regional economy. Increased tourist visits will not only benefit the hotel and retail industries, and encourage local tourism operators, but increased visits and revenues (from admissions, educational activities, guided tours) will support the non-profit Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation in its efforts to maintain the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre and Dinosaur Discovery Gallery. A Geopark may act as an attractant to retirees and seniors to move to Tumbler Ridge. A Geopark will raise the profile of the work being done in Tumbler Ridge, including the scientific research, and may stimulate increased interest from provincial and federal governments and educational institutions.

2. Existing and planned facilities for the proposed Geopark

Geo-education and geo-tourism The Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre is a centre of excellence for vertebrate palaeontology research. This is the only museum in British Columbia dedicated to vertebrate palaeontology and is recognized nationally and internationally. It is staffed by two permanent qualified palaeontologists, and as many support staff as funding allows. It includes a substantial collections area, preparation laboratory, library, etc. The list of research publications is available at www.trmf.ca . This facility is just under 2500 square metres and includes the nearly 600 square metre public interpretive "Dinosaur Discovery Gallery". This gallery currently displays one large, main gallery exhibit interpreting dinosaur tracks and their makers from the mid-Cretaceous (~100mya). The main exhibit is supported by four large specimen display cases containing original specimens of dinosaur and bird tracks as well as contemporaneous fossil plant specimens from the region. Four backlit displays and two LCD displays provide additional information pertaining to the geology and palaeogeography of this time period, as well as information on dinosaur and bird tracks and the difference between flowering and non-flowering plants.

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A wheelchair accessible 20 person capacity theatre allows visitors to explore several hours of local, national and international documentaries and television. Plans for expansion to incorporate other exhibits of international significance from the region have been developed.

The Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre through its research program, preparation, documentation and exhibition of specimens, is ultimately what generates much of the interest in the area, and enables the enjoyment of the public-accessible palaeontological features and exhibits. The Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and the Museum Foundation’s exhibits in the Community Centre currently cater to geo-education and geo-tourism. So do the programs offered: dinosaur footprint tours to two sites close to town, educational Dino Camps for kids, and programs for school groups. Funding was received in 2013 for extensive renovations to the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and PRPRC through a combination of regional, provincial and federal sources. The many geosites in the area are typically reached by hiking trails which have self-guiding brochures. Most of these brochures already include geological information; this is being upgraded.. The Museum Foundation & Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre have hosted an annual palaeontology symposium since 2009, and plan to continue with this. The 2013 symposium had the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark as its theme and featured over 20 speakers from across Canada. Planned additions include: Expansion of, and further exhibits in the Dinosaur Discovery, to reflect the ongoing discoveries and achievements of the research program of the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre and other scientists with active research in the proposed Geopark area. Expansion of existing programs to cater to a wider range, including camps for seniors. Current tours and camps occur in summer only; four season camps and tours are possible. There are further sites of geological and palaeontological interest close to town (Flatbed Falls, Mini Falls, Quality Falls) that are suitable for geological tours, and in winter Flatbed Canyon is accessible on cross country skis. The trail brochures are being revised, so as to provide even greater emphasis on geology.

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Local artists are working on producing murals of geological destinations and placing them prominently in town; this will enable a walking tour of Tumbler Ridge that raises awareness of geological heritage. Liaison between the Steering Committee and the local Chamber of Commerrce will focus on encouraging local tour operators to feature Geopark themes and education in their products. For example, river boat tour operators can be given training to enable them to add geological education on tourist excursions up the Murray River (to Kinuseo Falls) and downstream through the Murray Canyon and to numerous tributaries with waterfalls. Helicopter tours for visitors can be expanded, to include more geological sites of special interest. Tours of the local coal mines may be resumed. First Nations representatives have expressed an interest in tours that interpret traditional use of plants and the landscape. Existing guidebooks and maps will need to be updated, and appropriate literature, websites and social media sites will be developed, along with a coffee-table book on the Geopark.

Tourist information The Tumbler Ridge Visitor Information Centre and Dinosaur Discovery Gallery provide comprehensive visitor information services. Self-guiding hiking brochures are also available at most trailheads. Current websites include: www.trmf.ca , www.wnms.pris.ca , www.dtr.ca A dedicated Geopark website is being developed. Northern BC Tourism and Tourism BC have an interest in the proposed Geopark. Tourist information is already available at their sites (websites, Visitor Information Centres) and this can be expected to increase.

Education sites 1) Dinosaur Discovery Gallery within the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre: This almost twenty-five hundred square metre facility houses an education room, and the palaeontological exhibits, as well as the research and collections components. A renovation project is underway that will enhance it. This site will be the education anchor of the proposed Geopark. 2)Tumbler Ridge Community Centre: The walls of this centre in downtown Tumbler Ridge are adorned with over thirty exhibits featuring diverse aspects of the natural and human history of the region. It also houses the municipal library, and recreational facilities like swimming pool, gym and squash courts. Nearby is the Caboose featuring the Railway Exhibit. Room space is available for educational purposes. 3) Lost Haven Cabin: This shelter serves as a warm-up hut on the cross country ski trail system near Tumbler Ridge. It can form an attractive venue for outdoor classes, and has trail access down to the banks of the Murray River. 4) Flatbed Falls interpretive shelter: This covered structure was built in the 1980s with industry funding. It has a number of benches and is suitable for use as an outdoor classroom. 5) Gwillim Lake Camp (School District #59): This lakeside facility has a central cooking and relaxation area, surrounded by forest cabins; it is for use by school groups and can be rented to other groups for retreats. 6) Conference Centre - Trend Mountain Hotel boasts a fully equipped conference centre.

Accommodation Three hotels; more are planned. Current room capacity: 204. Bed & Breakfasts: one at present; others are likely to follow. One RV Park in Tumbler Ridge; 54 sites with capacity for overflow camping. Lions Campground just outside Tumbler Ridge; 40 sites. Provincial Park campgrounds (Monkman and Gwillim Lake); 71 sites. Ten Forestry Recreation campsites in the region offer basic camping.

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Trails There are maintained hiking trails to a diversity of sites as described above; the majority have self-guiding brochures. The website of the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society, www.wnms.pris.ca has photo galleries and downloadable brochures.

3. Analysis of geotourism potential of the proposed Geopark As with any proposal, the Tumbler Ridge proposed Geopark has its strengths and weaknesses. In this case, depending on one’s perspective, what may be perceived as weaknesses can also be seen as strengths. One weakness is the long Canadian winter, with a resulting relatively short summer tourist season. This can be countered by offering museum education programs and camps throughout the year, and by creating winter field trips such as Flatbed Canyon (stratigraphy lesson and dinosaur footprints). Development of products suitable for the spring and fall tourist seasons is likewise desirable. Another potential weakness is the distance from large cities, and thus the relative remoteness. This does make it more challenging to attract very large numbers of visitors, but the converse is that the wilderness geological experience offered here is less crowded, and more adventurous and more pristine. Likewise, Tumbler Ridge is not on a through-road – there is therefore minimal chance of attracting chance visitors who happen to stop and be intrigued. Conversely, the concept of a destination-area that is not bothered by the din and presence of highway traffic passing through is enviable and attractive. The possibility of the railway line being opened to tourism cannot be excluded. This would form another interesting attraction. Across the border in the neighbouring province of Alberta, a palaeontological museum is being developed based on a Pachyrhinosaur bonebed. Fortunately, the “product” there is very different from ours. This will be a complementary feature that will help attract visitors who have an interest in palaeontology to the area and will likely increase interest in the Tumbler Ridge area. The geological destinations in the proposed Geopark, are almost without exception in spectacular wilderness settings. However, driving the hundred kilometres into the community from Dawson Creek, Chetwynd or Grande Prairie, the scenery is pleasant but not overwhelmingly attractive. Very few of the sites can be reached by road. Some visitors will therefore have to be content with the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery, the museum exhibits and programs, helicopter or river-boat tours, and a handful of driveable sites like Kinuseo Falls. This would be in contrast to, for example, the higher ranges of the Canadian Rockies further to the south where there are innumerable geology lessons to be learned from within the comfortable confines of one’s vehicle as it meanders along valley bottoms and visits roadside pullouts. The flip side of this is that the proposed Geopark area is a hiker’s paradise, and that most of the destination sites are reached via reasonably short trails. More than a month could be needed in the area to properly visit them all. This will be a “healthy-lifestyle” Geopark offering adventure, in which getting out onto the trails and indulging in healthy activities such as hiking and cross country skiing will yield optimal enjoyment. Combined with time spent in the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery, enjoying the programs and other exhibits and partaking in tours, a truly great and unique adventure experience may result. Another potential weakness has been the relative lack of provincial government funding that has thus far been available to the museum project, despite substantial support from municipal government and other programs. Reputation thus far has spread largely by word of mouth. This could be enhanced by increased marketing initiatives. The Dinosaur Discovery Gallery exhibits and Community Centre exhibits have been developed at a fraction of the cost usually associated with such endeavours. Other projects of similar or lesser importance may have been fortunate to have enjoyed significant provincial support from the outset. The Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation project in fact began when, after the discovery of the first

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accumulation of dinosaur bones, it was realized that there was no facility and no scientists within the province that were qualified to do it justice. What has been achieved so far in these circumstances can be regarded as near-miraculous. Conversely, this weakness can also be perceived as a strength – in the long term, well-organized grassroots projects driven by local passion and enthusiasm have a success rate that top-down projects struggle to match (many of which ultimately fail due to lack of direction and commitment ,or which wither due to the financial burdens of top-heavy management structures). The relatively small size of the community at the heart of the proposed Geopark (population 4000) can be perceived as a weakness, as it may be challenging to provide the type and amount of infrastructure that a larger community could provide. The converse opinion is that an attractive, remote community in an inspiring foothills setting with an uplifting ambience has much to recommend it, and that the social support and volunteer networks that spring up in small communities may be stronger and more effective than their urban counterparts. A number of commissioned studies have analyzed the tourism potential of the Tumbler Ridge museum project: Lions Gate, AldrichPears, Economic Growth Solutions (accessible at www.trmf.ca ).

4. Overview and policies for the sustainable development of:

- Geo-tourism and Economy The proposed Geopark is geographically situated within the eastern part of British Columbia’s Northern BC Tourism Region. The Northern Region encompasses 61.9% of the province’s total land area and stretches from the Queen Charlotte Islands in the west to the Alberta border in the east, and north to the Yukon and Alaska borders. As such, the bulk of tourism research relates to the province and Northern BC Tourism Region. Fortunately, the 2008 South Peace Value of Tourism Study is specific to the area in which the Geopark would be located. In 2010, BC’s tourism industry generated $13.4 billion and the Northern Region contributed $1.3 billion to the overall picture. Results from the 2008 South Peace Value of Tourism Study show that visitor spending contributes $91,500 annually to the local area. The study also indicates that 227,800 visitors travelled through the region between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. The introduction of a Geopark will not only attract new visitation but entice visitors to extend their length of stays. Across the province, there are an estimated 17,943 tourism- related businesses that employ about 260,000 workers, or 10.8 per cent of British Columbia’s total labour force of 2.4 million people. An estimated 8,500 tourism industry workers are employed in the Northern Region. Within the Northern Region, the BC resident currently makes up the largest share of visitor volume and expenditures, followed by Alberta. Other current visitor markets include: rest of Canada, USA, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Australia. This summary of current visitation does not take into account potential developments in global tourism trends, coupled with the increasing connection between the Tumbler Ridge economy and Chinese economic interests. Given the interest in China in Geoparks, a Geopark in western North America may be a sought-after commodity. Twinning with a Geopark from China is already being contemplated. The outcomes from the 2008 Tumbler Ridge Community Tourism Plan identify key visitor types as the Free Independent Traveler and those visitors who travel in small groups. Key activities include outdoor recreation, sightseeing and visiting attractions such as Kinuseo Falls and the palaeontological exhibits and field sites. These findings are also highlighted in Tourism BC’s 2012 In-Market Research Report for Northern BC which indicates visitors are most likely to participate in sightseeing, visiting parks (provincial or national), nature appreciation, wildlife viewing, hiking and visiting rural communities. This Report also points out that visitors to destinations in Northern BC participated in a far greater range of activities while on their trip than originally planned.

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Based on the research, Geopark status would appeal to visitors traveling in the Northern Region. Moreover, such status would support the goals of the Tumbler Ridge Community Tourism Plan: - to grow the tourism industry strategically as a way of diversifying the local economy, expanding the tax base, increasing jobs and income available to residents while recognizing community values - to enhance destination development and appeal for visitors through the strategic use of regional provincial, national and private infrastructure investments. Providing services for visitors to the Geopark will generate new employment opportunities for residents and contribute to the social fabric of the community. In summary, Geopark status will lead to increased tourist visits and thus stimulate the local and regional economy. This is a process that has already begun, since the tourism product was developed in Tumbler Ridge in the early 2000s, and the Waterfalls and Dinosaurs theme was subsequently adopted. Visitation numbers to the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery are increasing, and in 2012 were exactly 4000 (adult admission fee was $8, with reduced rates for members, seniors, and children). There were 2894 visitors in 2010 and 3639 visitors in

2011. Geopark status will continue and accelerate this trend, but is unlikely to overwhelm the capacity of the community given the relative remoteness of the area from major urban centres.

GEOGRAPHIC ORIGIN OF MUSEUM VISITORS (%)

2012

Alberta

11%

CANADA

7%

USA

3%

International

3%

Grande Prairie

Region

9%

BC Other

26%

Peace Region

27%

Tumbler Ridge

14%

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- Geo-education and Geo-heritage Envisaged initiatives to foster Geo-education and to promote an appreciation of Geo-heritage include:

- Continue to maintain the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and Community Centre exhibits, and increase promotion and marketing.

- Continuation of the Museum Foundation`s popular Dino Camps for children. - Reinstitution of northern wilderness camps, to include specific topics such as Boulder Gardens

and geology. - Continuation of annual scientific symposium, focussing on palaeontological and geological

themes. - Expansion of educational camps to include four-season camps, seniors’ camps, etc. - Continuation of existing Dinosaur Trackway tours (daytime and lantern). - Introduction of new guided tours – possibilities include coal mine tours (which may include

dinosaur footprint localities within the mines), wind energy project tours, train trips, enhanced river-boat trips.

- Brochure development for self-guided geology road tours, including the three highway routes into Tumbler Ridge, and the unpaved roads to the Boulder Gardens, Mount Hermann, Albright Ridge, Windfall Lake, etc.

- Brochure development (self-guiding geological brochure) interpreting the winter cross country ski trip up Flatbed Canyon.

- Upgrade the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society’s trail brochures to feature even more information on geology, and continue enhancement of the hiking trail system.

- Expansion of the TRMF, WNMS, District of Tumbler Ridge and regional tourism websites to place an added emphasis on geology, and development of a dedicated Geopark website..

- Continue working with local artists who are depicting the local geological heritage through murals and smaller works of art. This includes providing advice that is geologically, palaeontologically and archaeologically correct in the expectation that the resulting products are scientifically accurate.

- Continue working with local Arts Council regarding drama productions that describe and celebrate regional history.

- Build on the success of the Trilogy of Asoiring Geopark books to produce a coffee-table book highlighting the features of the proposed Geopark.

BUSINESS PLAN Governance Structure The structure of the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark Steering Committee and the relationship with its partners, stakeholders and advisors is outlined on page 5 of this application. An application is being made by the Steering Committee to register the proposed Geopark as a British Columbia non-profit society, with a Board of Directors. Once approved, this will allow an application for charitable status to be completed, which will allow for greater success in fund-raising. Operations: Administration Depending on funding levels, the project will be directed by existing museum employees or through the appointment of a dedicated Tumbler Ridge Geopark director. Tasks will include marketing of the Geopark, selling merchandise and sourcing donations and funding. This person(s) will be given direction by the Board of Directors. The Tumbler Ridge Museum will provide an office and administration and bookkeeping services on an in-kind basis. Operations: Maintenance In aiming here to demonstrate the financial sustainability of the proposed Geopark, we first need to demonstrate and appreciate the sustainability of the core Tumbler Ridge Geopark features:

1) The Museum, PRPRC, Dinosaur Discovery Gallery and associated educational and guided tour programs.

2) The hiking trail system, leading to numerous geosites, mostly designed and maintained by the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society.

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While every effort will be made by the Steering Committee to work with partners (including the Chamber of Commerce) to encourage and help develop other Geopark-related entrepreneurial activities, it is beyond the scope or capacity of the Steering Committee to guarantee the financial success or sustainability of such initiatives. The Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation has received core annual funding of $200 000 for the past decade from the District of Tumbler Ridge, in response to annual applications, which are set to continue. The Peace River Regional District has recently indicated a willingness to match this funding annually. The Museum Foundation has supplemented this funding by seeking out donations from industry and other sources, and applying for specific funding programs which become available from time to time, including summer student staffing programs. Often multiple levels of government have been involved, each with their own criteria and matching requirements. An example of such fund-raising success relates to the 2013 museum renovation project, which used $170 000 from the Peace River Regional District (regional) to leverage further funding from the Northern Development Initiative Trust (provincial) and Cultural Spaces (federal) sources, yielding a total project cost of over $535 000. Industry has been willing year after year to provide funding to support the educational component of the museum’s programs, a 2013 example being $10 000 from Walter Energy, one of the local mines. While past performances and funding successes are not a complete guarantor of future well-being, this enviable track record points toward future similar success. The Wolverine Nordic Mountain Society (WNMS) is a registered not-profit society in British Columbia. For the past fifteen years it has organized the Emperor’s Challenge, the largest off-road running event in the province. In 2013 there were 1001 entries in a capped field. Not only does this event promote awareness of the area’s mountain scenery and geology, but it also acts as a significant generator of funds. 2013 profits were in the region of $25 000. While some of these profits get donated to other worthwhile projects, the vast majority of these funds are used to maintain, sign, enhance, describe and promote the hiking trail system, which leads to the numerous geosites. Over the winter of 2013-14 all the brochures are being upgraded to reflect Aspiring Geopark status and increase geological content. As a result of sound financial management, the current balance in the WNMS account of over $83 000 ensures sufficient funds to continue with trail maintenance and upgrading for many years to come, to be augmented each year by Emperor’s Challenge profits, providing stable revenue. The District of Tumbler Ridge will continue to maintain its trails close to town, and BC Parks continues to maintain those trails that fall within the provincial park system. The Steering Committee will continue to work with these groups to ensure that these core features of the proposed Geopark are maintained and enhanced. We are therefore able to express confidence in the financial sustainability of these core Geopark attractions. We need next to demonstrate the viability of the proposed Tumbler Ridge Geopark. The Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark Steering Committee successfully applied to the Peace River Regional District for $250 000 of funding support in 2013. Most of this funding ($170 000) was devoted to the renovation of the Museum facility, in the recognition that a more attractive museum with improved facilities and better storage and research capacity would immeasurably enhance the Geopark application. $5000 was provided in order to send a representative to the European Geoparks Conference in Italy. The remaining $75 000 was allocated towards Geopark-related projects, including the very successful 2013 symposium on the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark (attended by over twenty speakers from across Canada), the creation of books on the attributes of the Tumbler Ridge area, and the required site visit by the Canadian National Committee for Geoparks (letter is appended). The Trilogy of books created are entitled: Tumbler Ridge – the Scenery, Tumbler Ridge – the Fossils, and Tumbler Ridge – the Human History. Each is approximately 52 pages in length, in colour, with a predominance of colour photographs. They have received widespread acclaim. Production cost was approximately $22 000, for a print run of 3000 of each. Allowing for promotions and gifts to dignitaries, it is estimated that $72 000 will be generated over the course of the next three years, as these are sold for $25 for the set of three. In the longer term, funding will be sought to produce a coffee-table Geopark book.

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In addition, over $10 000 remains of the funds provided in 2013 by the Peace River Regional District. If this application for Global Geopark status justifies a site visit in 2014, these funds are available to cover the costs of those assigned to make this visit, as well as the costs so that Godfrey Nowlan, Chairperson of the Canadian National Geoparks Committee, can be present at this site visit. These funds are currently being managed as a sub-account within the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, but will become part of a dedicated Geopark account once the non-profit Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark.Society is formed. In addition, the steering committee will continue to seek funding for the proposed Geopark from other sources, including once again the Peace River Regional District, the District of Tumbler Ridge, as well as industry, and the British Columbia government. “Friends of the Geopark” is envisaged as an enhanced marketing campaign that will target companies operating in the region and seek new “Friends”. When such funding materializes it will be possible to create the position of Director for the proposed Geopark, responsible to the Board of Directors of the Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark Society, rather than have the administrative work performed by museum employees and steering committee members. Budget Projections: The following budget estimates represent best estimates, and are rounded off to the nearest $1,000.

These budget projections suggest that, individually and collectively, the core attractions of the proposed Geopark and the co-ordinating and promotional activities of the Steering Committee are sustainable.

Year 2013 2014 2015 2016

Revenues

TR Trilogy Book Sales 24,000 24,000 24,000

Friends of Geopark Donations 10,000 20,000 30,000

Peace River Regional District 250,000 TBA TBA TBA

District of Tumbler Ridge 0 TBA TBA TBA

Province of British Columbia 0 TBA TBA TBA

Total Sales 250,000 34,000 plus 44,000 plus 54,000 plus

In Kind

Total Sales Line 8 250,000 34,000 plus 44,000 plus 54,000 plus Administrative Support Museum, bookeeping 21,000 21,000 21,000 21,000

Office Space Museum 6,000 6,000 6000

Steering Committee Volunteer Hours 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000

Total Revenue 281,000 71,000 plus 81,000 plus 91,000 plus

Cash Out/Expenses

TR Trilogy Books 22,000

Geopark Symposium 38,000

European Geopark Conference delegate 5,000

Renovations for DDG & PRPRC 170,000

UNESCO - Global Geopark Network visit 10,000

Delegates to GGN conferences 5,000 10,000 10,000

Marketing 10,000 10,000 10,000

Twinning initiative 1,000 1,000

Administration office supplies 1,000 1,000 1,000

Insurance (Director/Liability) 2,000 2,000 2,000

Legal Fees / Accountant, audit 3,000 3,000 3,000

Telephone 1,000 1,000 1,000

Office Support/Research 10,000 10,000

Director position 20,000 35,000 35,000

Total Cash Out 235,000 52,000 73,000 73,000

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5. Policies for, and examples of, community empowerment (involvement and consultation) in the proposed Geopark Municipal government is part of the steering committee. Peace River Regional District is an enthusiastic supporter and has provided significant financial support. The proposal is volunteer-driven and is a grassroots initiative. Awareness, empowerment, involvement and community input are relatively easy to achieve in a small, isolated community. Social media sites have the capacity to catalyze this. The list of stake-holders is long and includes a broad cross-section from the community. Presentations and updates are provided to municipal and regional government, and stakeholders and other community groups, with opportunities to provide input.

6. Policies for, and examples of, public and stakeholder awareness in the proposed Geopark. The list of stakeholders is long and includes a broad cross section of the Tumbler Ridge community, as well as the relevant regional and provincial authorities and experts. Reports are made back to the public (through, for example, the local newspaper) and stakeholders (through email and opportunities to meet with steering committee). Social media sites will allow for increased awareness and interaction.

E – INTEREST & ARGUMENTS FOR JOINING THE

GLOBAL GEOPARKS NETWORK Ever since we became aware of the Geopark concept and the Global Geopark Network, we have believed such a designation and recognition would be a perfect fit for what we have been working towards for the past decade. The efforts we have subsequently made to include all levels of government, industry, First Nations and local stakeholders in the Geopark concept have yielded enthusiasm and excitement. A single remote, appealing community in a large, easily definable area of remarkable natural wonder; an ongoing palaeontological research program that has received the support of government and industry; a passionately involved volunteer base that has already gone to great lengths to celebrate this science, geological heritage and beauty; a burgeoning museum facility that already collects, prepares, interprets and informs, and caters to visitors; an unequalled network of hiking trails to select geological destinations; the opportunities for healthy lifestyle promotion that come with all these activities – together these already make Tumbler Ridge a unique adventure destination, and ours a unique product. We believe that through our Waterfalls and Dinosaurs community theme, our focus on natural wonders and palaeontological heritage, our development of a museum and gallery exhibits, educational programs, symposia, guided tours and our network of hiking trails to sites of geological and aesthetic significance, Tumbler Ridge is already functioning as a de facto Geopark. Joining the GGN will formalize this interest and activity. Being part of a greater organization dedicated to the same goals will support the community in its endeavours, raise its profile, and act as an economic diversification stimulus, while enhancing community pride and “sense of place.” We hope that by having our representatives attend Global Geopark Network meetings and initiatives, we will learn and be able to bring this knowledge back to our area to enhance our programs and our product. Conversely, we hope that what we have to offer will interest the GGN, and lead to a legacy of mutual benefits.

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AWARDS The Tumbler Ridge Aspiring Geopark Steering Committee received the Innovation Award from Northern British Columbia Tourism in October 2013. Tumbler Ridge palaeontologists Richard McCrea and Lisa Buckley received the Sci-Tech North Technology Leadership Award in 2008 and 2010. Lisa Buckley received the University of Alberta Graduate Student Association “Community Involvement Award” in recognition of scientific outreach activities in the Peace Region in 2012. Richard McCrea received the Museums in Motion Award of Merit from the British Columbia Museums Association in 2011 in recognition of his work as Curator of Palaeontology for the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation. Charles Helm received the Rene Savenye Award for contributions to British Columbia paleontology in 2011, the Walter Smith Visionary Award for innovation in tourism from Tourism Prince Rupert / Northern BC Tourism in 2009, and the Community Futures Award from the United Nations International Year of Fresh Water in 2003. Charles Helm received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002. Charles Helm and Rose Colledge received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. The Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society has received awards at provincial (British Columbia Parks and Recreation Association) and regional (Peace River Regional District) level as a model non-profit volunteer organization. In 2011 Tumbler Ridge was the winner (not just in its size category, but overall) of the British Columbia Walking Challenge. This contest involved the submission of anecdotes and photos of local exercise-related attractions and success-stories. The prize money of $60,000 was allocated by the District of Tumbler Ridge to the Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society for the purpose of hiking trail development and enhancement.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT, REFERENCES

Letters of support have been received from the United Nations Water for Life Decade, the Kelly Lake Cree Nation, the federal government through the Member of Parliament, the provincial government through the Member of the Legislative Assembly, the Regional District, the District of Tumbler Ridge, BC Parks, Rec Sites and Trails BC, the Northern BC Tourism Association, the University of Northern British Columbia, the Northern Lights College, the Brirish Columbia Paleontological Alliance, and Capital Power. These can be viewed at www.trmf.ca . The letter of support from the Canadian National Committee for Geoparks is appended on the final page of this application. A comprehensive list of books, websites, references, scientific papers, and education activities, media interviews, outreach activities, magazine articles and brochures, seminars, talks, delegations, field trips, workshops and symposia, and palaeontological resource conservation activities can be viewed at www.trmf.ca . These all relate to the proposed Geopark and the activities of the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre, Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation and Wolverine Nordic and Mountain Society.

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ORGANIGRAM

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