Canada and Australia Partner in New7Wonders Campaign

PARRSBORO, NS, January 28, 2011 (Press-News.org) Bay of Fundy Tourism is excited to announce that 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 final 7 will be chosen by popular vote on November 11, 2011.

"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 (ACOA) 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.

"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 Right whale in Bay of Fundy and the South 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, 2011.
The New7Wonders of Nature campaign was initiated by the Swiss-based New7Wonders Foundation. It was founded in 2001 by the Swiss-born Canadian filmmaker, Bernard Weber. After various campaign phases, an original roster of 440 entries from 220 countries was narrowed by popular vote to 28 global finalists. More than one billion public votes worldwide are predicted before the final 7 are declared on November 11, 2011. To cast your votes for Bay of Fundy and the two Australian sites go to votemyfundy.com.

Photos of the Canadian & Australian Flags flying on the Bay of Fundy can be found at:
http://www.votemyfundy.com/media/canaus/

Bay of Fundy Campaign Video:
http://youtube.com/fundybay

Media Contacts:
Bay of Fundy Tourism
Terri McCulloch
Executive Director
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
Canada
Ph: 1.902.254.4041
terri@bayoffundytourism.com



Tourism Australia
Kim Moore Public Affairs Manager
Australia Ph: 02 9361 1306

About the Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy is a 270 km (170 mile) long ocean bay that stretches between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on Canada's east coast. The Bay of Fundy is best known for the highest tides in the world and has been compared, in marine biodiversity, to the Amazon Rainforest. The Bay is the summer feeding area for half the world's population of endangered North Atlantic Right whales and 12 other whale species. It is home to the world's most complete fossil record of the "Coal Age" (300 million years ago) as well as Canada's oldest dinosaurs. The Bay of Fundy is home to two UNESCO Biosphere Reserves (Bay of Fundy & Southwest Nova) as well as the Joggins Fossil Cliffs UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Stonehammer Geopark in Saint John.


About Bay of Fundy Tourism

Bay of Fundy Tourism is the official nominating committee of the Bay of Fundy in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign. The organization's mandate is to raise the profile of the Bay of Fundy as a Canadian nature tourism icon. This non-profit association is supported by Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture & Heritage; New Brunswick Tourism & Parks; the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Regional Development & Tourism Associations.