Georgian Bay

ABOUT

About Georgian Bay

Sometimes referred to as the "Sixth Great Lake", the rugged landscapes of Georgian Bay have long shaped Canadian identity. A jewel of Canadian geology, its shoreline exposes the most diverse geology found anywhere in North America, recording in total more than 2 billion years, or close to half of our planet’s entire history. It's diversity reflects its location astride the southern boundary of the Precambrian Canadian Shield where rocks are as old as 2.4 billion years old, and much younger Paleozoic fossiliferous sedimentary rocks to the south that are some 400 million years in age. Its opposing shores afford great contrasts in landscape from the Thirty Thousand Island area in the east where white pines grow out of the ancient Precambrian rocks so beloved of the Group of Seven, to the bold promontory and limestone plains of the Bruce Peninsula to the west where the Niagara Escarpment falls dramatically into deep water.

Educational Outreach

This website serves as a hub for educational outreach about Georgian Bay's geology. Our core belief is that geology—the study of the Earth through time—is fundamental to understanding all other aspects of the landscape, from ecology to its role in history and human activity. Here, you will find lectures, maps, virtual field trips, and other resources tailored to a variety of educational levels, from K-12 to university students, as well as lifelong learners. Whether you're an educator, student, or curious explorer, our content aims to foster a deeper appreciation of Georgian Bay’s geological foundations and their influence on culture, biodiversity, and sustainable practices.

The UNESCO initiative

Efforts are underway to designate Georgian Bay as part of the UNESCO Global Geopark program, celebrating its world-class geological heritage. Geoparks do not impose legal restrictions on land use or charge entry fees but instead serve as thematic networks that promote geological research, support geoconservation, and enhance public engagement with Earth sciences. By raising awareness of an area’s geological significance, they complement and amplify the conservation efforts of other organisations. To learn more, visit www.georgianbaygeopark.com, or follow along on social media @georgianbaygeopark!

The following 8-part series of educational modules were prepared as part of Ontario's Virtual Learning Strategy Program, designed to support online learning in a university environment. They constitute part of a fully online course (including assessments) hosted within a Learning management system that can be accessed here.

In 10 fully online modules, students review the history and workings of the planet, the geological and environmental history of Ontario, and show how the economic and social development of the province reflects its broader environmental setting and history.

Ontario has one of the best backyards in the world; its rocks and landscapes record a fascinating 3 billion year long geologic history. Let's Rock Ontario is a guide to more than 500 sites from the Canadian Shield of the north to the limestones plains and glaciated lowlands of the south that reveal Ontario’s outdoors, its rocks, fossils and natural attractions.