From: TimesTranscript.com
News Link: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/720957
The Bay of Fundy is competing against the likes of the Amazon rainforest, Mount Everest and the Great Barrier Reef to be named one of the seven wonders of the natural world and today is the last day to cast a vote for Canada's entry in the contest.
"It's pretty stiff competition, no doubt about it," says Terri McCulloch, the manager of Bay of Fundy Tourism, a co-operative non-profit group between the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia tourism associations. "But we'd definitely like to continue onto the next phase of the contest."
The voting is part of the worldwide New7Wonders of Nature contest. Two hundred and sixty nominees in 222 different countries are jockeying for position. They are divided into seven categories, with the top 11 vote-getters in each one advancing to the next round. The Bay of Fundy currently sits in seventh place in the seascapes division.
"We're very much hoping to maintain that status but I know the voting's going crazy now. There's a lot of activity and there's a lot of movement, so it's absolutely important that people keep voting right up to the last minute," McCulloch says.
"The support was great in the first round. Maritimers love a challenge. It was like 'Oh, we're in a worldwide competition? That's fun, let's do it.' I was very touched and motivated by the enthusiasm of people."
The event follows a similar competition in 2007 that named the new seven wonders of the world. That list included the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and the colosseum in Rome. The list of 77 landmarks voted into the next round today will then be pared down to 28 finalists on July 21. The eventual winner in each category will be announced in 2011.
McCulloch says the length of the process should help raise the bay's profile at home and around the world.
"The purpose of the contest is to highlight and raise awareness of beautiful places around the world," she says. "Any time you can get international recognition it's a good thing, because we really are in an international market for tourism. It's one thing to say 'We think we're fabulous,' but it helps to validate things when other folks are stepping up and saying 'Yes, this really is one of the most extraordinary places on the planet.'
"We have so many features in the Bay of Fundy. We have the dinosaurs and the geology, as well as the two UNESCO sites here and just the whole marine eco-system that's been compared in bio-diversity to the Amazon rainforest. We felt we're competitive on the international stage and right now we're doing great."