Dinosaurs of B.C. Exhibit Debuts at Alberni Valley Museum

Dinosaurs of B.C. Arrives at the Alberni Valley Museum

The “Dinosaurs of B.C.” traveling exhibition opened to the public at the Alberni Valley Museum, marking the first time the collection has visited Port Alberni since launching in 2025.

The Tech TL;DR:
• The Royal B.C. Museum’s traveling paleontology exhibit runs in Port Alberni at 4255 Wallace St. until January 9, 2027.
• Displays feature “Buster” (Ferrisaurus sustutensis), the first unique dinosaur species discovered in the province.
• Operating hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fossils and Excavation Footage Highlighting Provincial Discoveries

Originating from the Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria, the exhibit takes visitors through the multi-stage process of fossil recovery, from initial bone excavation in the field to laboratory preparation and display. Central to the collection is “Buster,” an iron lizard of the Sustat River identified as Ferrisaurus sustutensis. Dr. Victoria Arbour, the Curator of Palaeontology for the Royal B.C. Museum, discovered the specimen in 2019. The exhibition incorporates photographs and video documentation from those original field expeditions.

Vancouver Island holds a deep history of fossil exploration outside the Sustat River site. The Comox Valley features shale beds along the Puntledge and Trent Rivers where fossils are regularly recovered. In 1988, paleontologist Mike Trask and his daughter Heather discovered the skeletal remains of a 14-metre elasmosaur, a marine reptile inhabiting the area over 80 million years ago. That marine reptile subsequently became the official fossil of British Columbia. A separate natural history display at the Qualicum Beach Museum houses more than 20,000 artifacts, curated over recent decades by fossil collector and researcher Graham Beard.

Alberni Valley Museum Hosts Dinosaur Display Until 2027

Kirsten Smith, collections curator at the Alberni Valley Museum, noted that the dinosaur display is a first for the facility at 4255 Wallace St. The installation is designed for all age groups, combining educational material with interactive elements.

The Port Alberni stop represents one of 41 communities hosting the collection across British Columbia. Over the past decade, more than 300,000 visitors have viewed the exhibit, according to Royal B.C. Museum records. The museum remains closed on all statutory holidays. The current run continues through January 9, 2027.