WEMBLEY, AB – This Saturday is Al Lakusta Day at the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum.

The retired teacher, whose location of the Pipestone Creek bonebed in 1974 led to the development of the Museum, is being recognized with daylong festivities – including free admission.

“We’re honouring Al for his contributions to the palaeontology world and celebrating the 10 year anniversary of the naming of Pachyrhinosaurus lakustai,” says Assistant Curator Derek Larson. “Al’s ongoing enthusiasm and support of the Museum has been important to our success.”

A costume contest and $2 movies until 1 p.m. and trick-or-fossil tables around the gallery are among highlights the day. Free admission includes entry into the travelling exhibit Our Feathered Friends. The Dine-O-Saur Restaurant is open with a special menu.

“From 1974 and many dinosaur fossilized bones to an award-winning museum is an amazing journey, and I’m very honored to have been a part of it,” Mr. Lakusta says. “Little did I realize what would result from that find.  A few fossilized bones in the world's richest bone bed has turned into something of world renown.”

Dr. Phil Currie, Research Associate and a founder of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller and now a professor at the University of Alberta, and Darren Tanke, a senior technician from the Tyrell Museum, first identified the bones Mr. Lakusta discovered as Pachyrhinosaurus.  On Oct. 1, 2008, the new species was recognized in his honour.

Museum Board Chair Linda Side has a special connection with Mr. Lakusta. He was her science teacher in junior high school.

“It is fitting that we honour Al Lakusta with a day dedicated to his discovery,” she says. “We credit the development of the museum, in large part, to his passion for rock hounding and a life filled with curiosity. That curiosity will serve to benefit those that experience the museum and for that Al should be very proud.”

She recalls Mr. Lakusta as being enthusiastic and excited about his work every day. “It’s appropriate that a fellow that was so committed to engaging young people throughout his career would continue to do so in his retirement.”

Sponsorship by Midpoint Mechanical LTD, means free dino bus rides from Centre 2000 and the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie!

For more information on the event and transportation arrangements, click here: https://dinomuseum.ca/events/al-lakusta-day/

The dinosaur museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday during the fall and winter from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Information provided by the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum.