Attention, dinosaur fans!
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport has announced the elasmosaur as the Province’s new official fossil emblem and is believed to enrich cultural identity.
As described, the adoption of such an emblem elevates the importance of fossils and honours BC’s rich history.
“British Columbia has a rich and diverse variety of fossils and fossil deposits that are a historical record of the evolution and development of life on Earth,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport.
“I am excited the elasmosaur fossil has been declared an official emblem of the province. This designation will help raise awareness that B.C. has a fossil heritage worthy of celebration and stewardship.”
The decision to bring the elasmosaur in the Provincial Symbols and Honours Act came after the Province held a public vote, which leaned in favour of electing it.
“Fossils are a glimpse into BC’s remarkable heritage and history,” said Ronna-Rae Leonard, MLA for Courtenay-Comox, who brought forward the bill to recognize the elasmosaur as B.C.’s fossil emblem.
“The elasmosaur fossil has become a symbol of the region since its discovery. Now, with this fossil being designated as an official emblem of BC, it is a point of provincial pride for all British Columbians.”
For those that are curious about this prehistoric being, the elasmosaur is a large marine reptile that lived along the coast of BC and dates back to the Cretaceous period—approximately 80 million years ago!
According to a report, the first elasmosaur fossil was discovered in 1988 by Mike Trask and his daughter Heather along the Puntledge River on Vancouver Island.
This discovery marked the first fossil of its kind found west of the Canadian Rockies!
“The proclamation of a new fossil emblem for BC recognizes the significance this 80-million-year-old fossil holds in representing British Columbia’s diverse natural history,” said Deborah Griffiths, executive director of the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre.
“The elasmosaur fossil is a remarkable discovery from BC’s prehistoric past and now, as the official provincial fossil, will help spark further interest in BC.’s ancient ecosystems, while supporting palaeontological work, STEAM education and tourism in this province.”
Since that first discovery, another elasmosaur fossil was found in Comox Valley by Pat Trask in 2020—now both elasmosaurs are on display at the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre.
Other provincial emblems include the Pacific dogwood as the provincial flower, stellar’s jay as our provincial bird, the spirit bear as our provincial mammal, Pacific salmon swimming as our provincial fish, jade as our mineral emblem, and western red cedar standing tall as our provincial tree!
If you want to learn more about the elasmosaur’s discovery, take a look at the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre’s website.
