Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark – photo courtesy the Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark Society

Tumbler Ridge, B.C. – The Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark has been voted a UNESCO Site.

195 member states voted to make all 120 existing Global Geopark sites UNESCO Sites in a vote earlier this week.

“I’m just so excited,” says Sarah Waters, manager of the Tumbler Ridge Global Geopark Society.

“For a long time we’ve been saying we’re a UNESCO supported Global Geopark and that’s great but to actually have UNESCO adopt us as a program on par with the UNESCO World Heritage Program and the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Program is great for us.”

And while the new label doesn’t result in any new direct funding, she says there will be an indirect impact.

“Just being able to go to the federal and provincial governments and tell them, look, we’re a UNESCO Global Geopark, look at what the impact is on tourism and education for BC and Canada. It really gives you another feather in your cap I guess.”