15th British Columbia Paleontological Symposium
August 22 – 25, 2025
The 15th British Columbia Paleontological Symposium will be held at the Florence Filberg Centre, August 22nd to 25th, 2025 in Courtenay, BC. The British Columbia Paleontological Alliance meets every two years to hold a symposium. This year the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society will host this symposium. The symposium will be supported by the Courtenay and District Museum. Please mark these dates on your calendar!
We extend a warm invitation For all to participate
- All friends and associates are welcome.
- There will be 14 formal presentations on exciting new fossil discoveries.
- Keynote speaker is Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
- The Paleo-banquet will be held Saturday evening, August 23rd at the Florence Filberg Centre, 411 Anderton Ave.
- Happy hour 5 pm – 6 pm
- Banquet 6 pm – 9:30 pm
- Special guest Ray Troll, author, paleontological artist, scientific collaborator and musician will speak at the banquet.
Locations:
| Symposium Event(s) | Location | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Lectures, Poster displays, Fossil displays, Silent Auction, Happy Hour, Evening banquet, Workshops | Florence Filberg Center (FFC) | 411 Anderton Ave Courtenay, BC Courtenay, BC |
| Museum tour, Social Mixer, Fossil Prep workshop, Field Trip meetups | Courtenay & District Museum and Paleontological Centre (Museum) | 207- 4th Street Courtenay, BC Courtenay, BC |
Dates & Events
This schedule may change. Please check back periodically for updates.
| Day | Date | Time | Event | Location / Meet Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday | August 22 | 10:00 am – 2:30 pm | Field trip to Shelter Point. Low tide 0.7 m at 11:00 am. | Museum |
| 5 pm – 6 pm | Museum tour with Pat Trask. No charge. | Museum | ||
| 6 pm – 9 pm | Evening social mixer: meet & greet with appetizers and an open bar. | Museum | ||
| Saturday | August 23 | 8 am | Doors open for registration. Coffee available. | FFC |
| 8:35 am – 4 pm | Lectures, poster displays, fossil displays, silent auction. Opening with Kirk Johnson, keynote speaker, and followed with eight (8) speakers through the day.  | FFC | ||
| 5 pm – 6 pm | Happy hour | FFC | ||
| 6 pm – 9 pm | Evening banquet, with special guest speaker, the author and artist Ray Troll. | FFC | ||
| Sunday | August 24 | 8 am | Doors open. Coffee available. | FFC |
| 8:45 am – 11:45 am | Lectures, workshops | FFC | ||
| 1:30 pm – 5 pm | Fossil Preparation Workshop led by: + James Wood, + Jay Hawley, and + Dan Bowen. | Museum | ||
| 2 pm – 5:30 pm | Field trip to Trent River | Museum | ||
| Monday | August 25 | 8 am – 5 pm | Field trip to Hornby Island. Low tide 1.59 m at 12:43 pm. | Museum |
| Tuesday | August 26 | TBD | Field trip to Hornby Island, continued. | Hornby Island |
Field Trips: More Information
Please meet at the Museum 15 minutes before departure.
- Friday, August 22nd to Shelter Point 10:00 am – 2:30 pm. Low tide 0.7 m at 11:00 am.
- Sunday August 24th to the Trent River, 2:00 pm- 5:30 pm.
- On Monday, August 25th, the Hornby Island Field trip has the option of one day or two days.
- Leave the Courtenay Museum at 8:00 am sharp to be in the ferry boarding line early, or meet at the Buckley Bay ferry terminal, to catch the 9:00 am ferry to Denman Island. Low tide 1.59 m at 12:43 pm.
- For those folks that want to stay on Hornby Island to take in the second day, August 26th, please advise the committee ASAP.
- Ferry and accomodation costs are borne by participants. Carpool or take your own car.
Questions?
- For more information email any of
Dan Bowen, Chair, Symposium Committee,
President, VIPS (Text or call 1-250-897-5026)