by After spending most of last year on display at Moncton’s Resurgo Place, Albert the dinosaur has traded city life for the country winds of Cape Hopewell.
Lawren Campbell, heritage and culture coordinator at Resurgo Place, packed up the resin cast of the prehistoric epic predator and took it to the Albert County Museum.
It took Campbell about three hours to assemble the pieces of the dinosaur named Alberta, which roamed the world more than 65 million years ago and was almost identical to its cousin, the Tyrannosaurus rex.
Discovered in the Alberta Badlands, an adult Albertosaurus weighed 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms, stood more than three meters and was between seven and nine meters long.
SEE | Life finds a way. As the Albert museum put together in its new home:
After hanging out with Albert at Resurgo Place for the past year, dinosaur-loving Campbell knows what kind of reaction his colleagues at the Albert County Museum are about to see.
“When people came around the corner of the exhibition space and saw a full-sized Albert almost touching the ceiling – the big head and the big teeth – there were audible gasps from the children,” he said.
“And it’s amazing how much kids know about dinosaurs … kids still love dinosaurs.”
Albert the dinosaur is three meters tall, 5.5 meters long and weighs about 70 kilograms, said Lawren Campbell, the heritage and culture coordinator at Moncton’s Resurgo Place. (Rhythim Rathi/CBC)
The dinosaur opens a new door
Albert is the centerpiece of a new natural history exhibition at the Albert County Museum, which opens June 15 and will be on display until the end of October.
Janet Clouston, the museum’s managing director, said Albert’s arrival created a buzz throughout the community.
“It’s inviting, it’s exciting, and we’re finding people who really enjoy it,” she said. “I think there will be a beeline … to see Albert.”
Albertosaurus, a serrated-tooth carnivore, roamed Alberta millions of years ago. (Dinopedia)
Clouston said the museum focused on the history of settlers and newcomers and industry but had never had the opportunity to extend into natural history until now.
This summer’s exhibit will also include fossils found in Albert County from their own collection and from the New Brunswick Museum.
“We hope that even when Albert leaves, we can continue with the natural history exhibition,” she said.
Stars since 1985
Albert made his first appearance in New Brunswick in 1985 as part of a Royal Ontario Museum traveling exhibit.
It came back again in 2023 as part of the 50th anniversary of Moncton’s Resurgo Place and Campbell said that’s when it became part of their permanent collection.
“When it came time to send it back and make those arrangements, they said, ‘You know what? It’s really not in line with our mandate? Do you want it for free? ‘
“So we took it and decided to market it as something we could lend to other institutions,” Campbell said.
He said Albert was very popular with children who visit Resurgo Place and he hopes he will receive the same love from Albert County.
Albert was transported in 10 large pieces, stored in wooden crates specially designed for him. (Rhythim Rathi/CBC)
Campbell said his team had to adjust Albert’s height by tilting his base up, to fit him into the exhibition hall.
Albert’s tail had to be raised about 30 centimeters on a pedestal to make it bend forward, and wires were attached to the roof to support his neck, Campbell explained.
“My favorite memory is when the head went on,” he said of the installation of the dinosaur. “When that one goes on, it becomes kind of real. A real thing that you almost expect to start moving.”
Albert the dinosaur will be part of a dinosaur-themed children’s festival in August and the Hillsborough Public Library is offering dinosaur-themed programs and Albert is on display.
Albert the dinosaur will be at the Albert County Museum until the end of October. (Rhythim Rathi/CBC)
“We’re building dinosaur clothes that the team can wear. I mean, we’re really taking this theme. It’s really fun,” Clouston said.
She also joked about what it will be like to open the showroom doors every morning to see Albert falling over.
“I don’t need coffee anymore,” laughed Clouston. “It could be just the adrenalin to see that.”
