Canada'sRoyal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology, one of the world's major dinosaur collections, is expected to receive a $9.3 million cash injection from federal and provincial governments in order toexpandthe facility.
Royal Tyrrell in the Badlands
Set in the heartof the Alberta Badlands, Royal Tyrrellis a paleontological museum and research centre. Ithousesover130, 000 fossils.These include a 72-million-year-old dinosaur fossil discovered by Canadian geologist Joseph Burr Tyrrell in 1884.It is Canada's only museum dedicated specifically topaleontology.Its location, the Badlands, is oneof the richest dinosaur fossil sitesin the world. It isalso home tothe UNESCO World Heritage Site Dinosaur Provincial Park.
Upgrades to the museum will include the creation ofa learning laboratoryandextra classrooms. In additionthe distance learning studios will be expanded.
The museum receives around400 thousand visitors a year from140 different countries.
Canada’s Premier Paleontological Institution
Andrew Neuman isthe museum’s executive director.He said, “Through research, exhibits, education and hands-on programming, our visitors get an experience at the Royal Tyrrell Museum unlike any other.
“We look forward to continuing to build on that experience through the expansion. Also toproviding our visitors with something new that draws them back here for years to come.”
The funding comprises$5.7 million from the Government of Alberta (Capital plan) together witha further $3.59 million from the Government of Canada (Canada Cultural Spaces Fund).Work on the project should be completedby 2019.
“I am thrilled that this investment will allow the museum to increase its programming and create greater opportunities for engagement, ” said Melanie Joly, minister of Canadian Heritage.
Photo by 
Jennifer Marcuson
François Ozan
