W Canada Travel

The last time I was in Edmonton, AB, I had a tour of the wonderful Royal Alberta Museum. In the works was a new exhibit that piqued my interest: the legend of the dragon was being displayed with over 200 artifacts and fossil remains from museums and private collections.

Work on the room was just getting started, so I wasn’t able to see anything, but I imagined learning about these mythical creatures while marvelling at what they left behind. I became fascinated and hoped that I could make it back for the opening. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it, although the exhibit is still running until September 14, 2008.

This same exhibit was first created in France and has toured in Canada at the Museum of Civilization in Quebec City before travelling to Edmonton.

“The Royal Alberta Museum is proud and privileged to be hosting the exhibit, which opened to rave reviews in its previous showings,” said Royal Alberta Museum Executive Director, Bruce McGillivray. “The artifacts demonstrate how dragons have evolved across different cultures and over time, and provide a fascinating example of the power of the imagination to give form to what is mysterious and unexplained.”

On top of the show, the Royal Alberta Museum is throwing in other events related to dragons: Here Be Dragons, a Sunday afternoon lecture series with dragon experts and storytellers, Dragon Tales for younger kids, a dragon film festival, and roving dragon characters. Sounds fun!

Please let me know if you see the exhibit in Edmonton, as I’d love to know what I’m missing :) Or maybe I can sneak in another trip to Alberta…

Dragons: Between Science and Fiction runs until September 14, 2008. Contact the Royal Alberta Museum (780-453-9100) for opening hours and program schedules.