Join Courtenay Museum natural history curator, Pat Trask, for an evening all about paleontological discovery in the Comox Valley.

Trask will recount 鈥淭ales of the Elasmosaur鈥� at 7 p,m, on Tuesday, Nov. 28 in the museum gallery.

Trask will focus on the 1988 discovery of the Puntledge River elasmosaur (which was just officially designated as B.C.鈥檚 provincial fossil emblem), discoveries made by others in the Comox Valley, and on his own recent find of a juvenile elasmosaur on the Trent River. Pat鈥檚 lecture will include slides and a walk through the exhibit area.

Trask is well known in the Comox Valley for his passion for paleontology. Thousands of school children and members of the public have attended his fossil tours over the years. He is also the recipient of the Rene Savenye Award, which is given to honour an amateur paleontologist who has demonstrated outstanding service to the science, or to paleontological education in B.C.

Admission to the evening lecture is $5 per Historical Society member; $6 for non-members (plus GST). Advance tickets are recommended and can be purchased by phone at 250-334-0686 ext. 2.

Elasmosaur birthday party

On Saturday, Nov. 25 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., celebrate the elasmosaur鈥檚 80,000,035th birthday at the Courtenay Museum. This event is fun for all ages. With some help from adults, kids can craft, wear, and take home their own birthday hat. There will also be giveaways, cake and a visit from the museum mascot. Thank you to MLA Ronna Rae Leonard for giving a special welcome at 12:30 p.m.

The Courtenay and District Museum is located at 207 Fourth Street in downtown Courtenay.