Pauline Guilliet Robinson and Evelyn Hausaur, president of the 20 mile post historical society stand next to a replica of Chasmosaurus Irvinesis 

By Tiffany Goodwein

Irvine dinosaur cast on display

Sep 12, 2020 | 7:09 PM

Irvine, AB- Nestled inside the New Horizons Club on South Railway in the small Hamlet of Irvine is a dinosaur cast dating back some 72 million years.

Chasmosaurus Irvinensis to be exact, or better known as Irvine’s dinosaur.

The dinosaur according to scientists was a herbivore and spanned roughly 16 feet long, 7 feet high and weighed some 2000 pounds.

The dinosaur remains were discovered back in 1958 and since then they have remained in Ottawa.

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“The bones will always remain in Ottawa because we didn’t have a temperature-controlled museum in Alberta that could house the bones,” said Pauline Guillet- Robinson Manager of ATB Financial Agency and owner of Nature’s Arbe.

But a year ago in July, Robinson began the process of getting a fiberglass replica made in order to bring a piece of Irvine’s history home.

The replica constructed by Peter May whose work is featured in Jurassic Park was supposed to come earlier this year but was delayed due to COVID-19. It finally arrived on Wednesday.

“The community is actually very excited. I’ve had people come through wanting to just take pictures of it with them. The school has come. I’ve had three classes come already from the school to look at it and everyone is excited because it is going to hopefully bring some kind of recognition to Irvine. Irvine is an awesome community and we just need to have some positivity right now,” Pauline Guillet-Robinson said.

Transport and the construction of the cast came at no cost to residents.

“Jordan Mallon and Peter May who is the sculptor, they actually donated their time to us so they paid for the freight and everything else.” she said.

Robinson hopes that the cast will eventually find a home at Irvine’s Prairie Memories Museum, but that depends on fundraising which they plan to do in order to give Irvine’s dinosaur a more suitable home.

“ The Museum does not have the funds to house it. We don’t have a place for it, so it should have its own place, some kind of case on it,” she said.

The plan is to place the dinosaur replica outside in a suitable outdoor shelter that can be accessible to the public. Fundraising will also go towards creating plaques and signage. They also hope to give it a name.

“ It’s for the community, I want to make sure that people know that this is for the community. It’s for the betterment of the community. The kids that have come from the schools so far are just so excited that they can come see something, they have something to do,” she said.

Those who wish to see Irvine’s dinosaur replica are asked to contact 403-458-2789