Canada and Australia are joining forces in the global New7Wonders of Nature Campaign. New Brunswick and Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy is Canada’s sole representative and Australia has two competing finalists, the Great Barrier Reef and Uluru (Ayers Rock).
“The Government of Canada is proud to see the Bay of Fundy as one of 28 finalists in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign,” said the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. “Our partnership with Tourism Australia in the New7Wonders of Nature Campaign to rally votes for both countries will encourage the profile of our natural wonders and showcase Canada as an exciting, international tourism destination.”
“Today Australia is celebrating ‘Australia Day’; a perfect opportunity to announce our new partnership,” stated Terri McCulloch, Executive Director, Bay of Fundy Tourism. “We have come together to support each other as we move forward in these final months of this historic campaign. The on-line voting system for the New7Wonders of Nature campaign requires the public to vote for 7 different finalists. By partnering we are encouraging Canadians and Australians to include each other in their choice of 7.”
Tourism Australia’s Managing Director, Andrew McEvoy says, “We are delighted to team up with our Canadian friends to announce this partnership with the Bay of Fundy today. If we Canadians and Australians work together we’ll be a world-beating team, and generate enough votes to get all three of our nominated sites onto the New7Wonders of Nature list.”
He added: “This is also a great opportunity for us to use our collective strength to encourage tourists from around the world to experience these incredible sites for themselves.”
Tourism Australia is the official supporting committee for both Australian sites.
There are many similarities observed between Canada’s and Australia’s finalists. The Great Barrier Reef is world’s longest coral reef and Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s largest mussel reefs. Similar to coral reefs, mussel reefs play an important ecological role by providing a unique and productive habitat that sustains high biodiversity. Both Great Barrier Reef and Bay of Fundy are home to an astounding variety of marine life and provide a critical habitat for many of the world’s whales, including the endangered North Atlantic Right whale in Bay of Fundy and the South Atlantic Right whale in Australia.
Through their websites and social media activities, Canada and Australia will continue to encourage votes for each other until the campaign’s conclusion on November 11.