New Discoveries Fuel Expansion Of Tumbler Ridge's Palaeontology Research Centre

In 2011, Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation received a $100,000 grant from Northern Development through the Economic Diversification Infrastructure program towards this $535,000 project. This has been a funding partnership of Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, Northern Development, Canadian Heritage, and Western Economic Diversification

2012-The Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation has continued to gain international attention and attract tourists since it first established the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre in 2004. With continued support from Northern Development in partnership with multiple other funders, the Foundation has been able to expand the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre, increasing the amount of processing and research within the Centre, as well as the size and number of public displays.

2012-In 2001, two young boys discovered a dinosaur track along the bedrock in Flatbed Creek, in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The boys’ incredible story immediately attracted national headlines, and a paleontologist quickly arrived on the scene. Once the Tumbler Ridge residents began to realize that the wealth of artifacts would continue to grow, the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation was created and they began to develop a palaeontological research facility and tourism center. Displays were created in the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre, trails were built to the dinosaur footprint field sites, and guided tours were offered.

It quickly became apparent that a new larger location needed to be built to house the growing number of artifacts. This initial expansion project was the first phase of this multi-year community infrastructure project. Under the first phase of this project, a local decommissioned elementary school was transformed into the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre and Dinosaur Discovery Gallery. As one can imagine, the upgrades needed for a project of this size were quite extensive and after the move of the Centre to the former elementary school, a second phase including renovations and exhibit development was undertaken. In May 2011, the Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation commenced the third phase of renovations and upgrades to the building.

The third phase involves further renovations to the interior and exterior of the building as well as the construction of a new collections building. The new collections building provides the storage space required for the growing number of palaeontology collections as the existing space was already at capacity.

This project is part of a multi-year expansion that has been supported through two additional investments by Northern Development for Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation projects:

"The funding we received from Northern Development is an important piece in moving this project forward."

Rich McCrae, Curator of Palaeontology, Peace River Palaeontology Research Centre

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Positive Economic Impacts in Tumbler Ridge

The economic impacts of developing the tourism industry in Tumbler Ridge are substantial as prior to the development of the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Centre, Tumbler Ridge was completely dependent on the local coal mining industry, and has been seeking ways to promote tourism and diversify the community's local economy.

By improving the facilities that house the Peace Region Palaeontology Research Center and Dinosaur Discovery Gallery, the reputation of the museum will continue to develop, and more researchers and tourists will visit Tumbler Ridge each year.

The new and expanded facility will allow scientists to continue to do research in Tumbler Ridge, allowing the District of Tumbler Ridge and the Peace Region to grow it's tourism market and attract media attention through new discoveries and exhibits.

Economic Diversification Infrastructure

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Dinosaur Discovery Gallery Leaps From Cretaceous Period to Modern Day Museum in Tumbler Ridge

Since two major coal mines that employed the majority of Tumbler Ridge residents closed in the 1990's, the remaining locals faced many years of economic instability. The discovery of these tracks foreshadowed a new tourism opportunity for Tumbler Ridge at the perfect time. An enormous amount of media exposure has…

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