14 Must-See Fossil Museums and Dinosaur Events on Vancouver Island

British Columbia’s flagship natural history museum in Victoria houses world-class fossil collections and exhibits. Its paleontology team researches local finds (for instance, “Buster” the Ferrisaurus sustutensis – B.C.’s first unique dinosaur species) and hosts travelling fossil shows. Most recently, the RBCM-produced Dinosaurs of BC exhibition (featuring bones and footprints from Vancouver Island) has toured the island. Within the museum’s permanent galleries (Natural History Hall) you’ll see Burgess Shale fossils and local Ice-Age mammals, and the museum often runs Dino Saturdays and school programs for kids. (Year-round; free general admission to the museum, with special exhibits included in paid admission.)
Read more about the Royal BC Museum

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This Comox Valley museum is famous for its Great Elasmosaur exhibit. In 1988 a local family discovered a nearly complete 8-metre elasmosaur (marine reptile) in the Puntledge River, and today “Traskasaura sandrae”, that elasmosaur, is British Columbia’s official fossil. The skeleton is prominently displayed here. The museum features other local fossils and geology, and runs on-site and outdoor educational programming for all ages throughout the year. Children can join fossil-hunting activities and “Fossil A+” tours, and school groups are welcome. (Year-round museum; features hands-on exhibits about Vancouver Island paleontology.)
Read more about the Courtenay and District Museum

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In summer 2025, the Nanaimo Museum hosts the Royal BC Museum’s Dinosaurs of BC travelling exhibition from June 9–25. Visitors can “dig into prehistoric BC,” meet Buster the Ferrisaurus sustutensis up close, and explore fossils and 3D-printed replicas of other British Columbia dinosaur discoveries. The museum also offers special dino-themed educational programs and guided tours for families and school groups throughout the exhibition. Admission is by donation for Dinosaurs of BC (June 9–25, 2025).
Read more about 'Dinosaurs of BC' Exhibition

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The Campbell River Museum will feature the same Dinosaurs of BC exhibit from Feb 8 to June 2, 2025. This traveling show brings real dinosaur fossils (and a life-size sculpture of B.C.’s first dinosaur, Buster) to Vancouver Island communities. The Campbell River Museum schedules school programs and public lectures alongside the exhibit. (Seasonal exhibition; runs Feb–June 2025.)

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This little museum has gained a world-class paleontology collection, thanks to decades of work by Graham Beard. It boasts over 20,000 fossil specimens from across B.C. and beyond. The natural history galleries span 550 million years – you’ll see everything from Precambrian trilobites (the only ones on Vancouver Island) to Cretaceous plants and even dinosaur-era marine invertebrates. (Dinosaur fossils on display include ancient shark teeth and plesiosaur bones.) Experts worldwide recognize Qualicum Beach Museum as one of the finest fossil collections on Earth. The museum offers educational programs and museum tours for families. (Year-round museum; open daily with changing paleontology exhibits.)

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Based in the Comox Valley, this society of amateur and professional paleontologists hosts meetings, field trips and social events. In August they hold a “Sabre-tooth Salmon” BBQ and fossil auction (Aug 3, 2025) that’s open to all members and guests. (Bring a picnic and a toy fossil for the silent auction – it’s a fun community gathering.) Throughout the year VIPS organizes fossil identification workshops and guided outings. (VIPS is also co-host of the BC Paleontological Symposium in Courtenay.) Refer to VIPS website for meetup details.

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Every two years (next August 22–25, 2025) the Vancouver Island Paleontological Society and Courtenay Museum host the provincial symposium at the Florence Filberg Centre. It’s a four-day conference for amateur and professional palaeontologists. The program features expert talks (2025 keynote by Kirk Johnson of the Smithsonian), poster sessions, and field excursions on the island. Though academic in nature, it often includes public lectures and fossil-collecting workshops open to families and students. (Annual/biannual event; registration required; details on VIPS website.)

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Dino Lab is a small, hands-on dinosaur “experience” in Victoria’s industrial area. By booking a guided tour, families can handle real fossils and be the “palaeontologist for a day” – brushing dirt off specimens and learning fossil prep techniques. Owner Hank Rebel shows off a massive dinosaur skeleton and encourages kids to touch bones and teeth. The Dino Lab’s motto is “bringing the hands-on dinosaur experience to Victoria, BC”. It’s a private enterprise (not a museum), open by reservation (including birthday parties). (Year-round, family-friendly activity – appointment required.)

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This large spring expo (May 30–June 1, 2025) at the Pearkes Rec Centre showcases gemstones, minerals – and fossils. Many vendors specialize in fossils and petrified wood: for example, “Natural Selections” offers “fossils, rocks, minerals and other natural items”. Families can browse dinosaur eggs, trilobites, shark teeth and more. Admission is affordable and kids under 12 enter free. Between exhibitors there are interactive displays (rock tumbler demos, gem panning) and educational booths. (Annual late-May event; tickets required.)

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Hosted by the Parksville & District Rock & Gem Club, this fall/winter show (Nov 29–30, 2025) at the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre features local dealers with minerals, crystals and fossils. Attendees can find everything from polished agate slices to ammonites. It’s smaller than Victoria’s show but very family-friendly, with kids’ activities (lapidary demonstrations and crafts). (Annual late-November event; free to public.)

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A private natural history museum opened by outfitter Jim Shockey, Hand of Man is open daily (donation). Its star attraction is a life-size Giganotosaurus cast (a 37-foot dinosaur), one of only 25 such casts worldwide. Shockey acquired it at auction for this museum, and it now dominates the entrance hall. The museum also displays gold nuggets, preserved wildlife, and artifacts from around the world. Visitors often meet Jim himself, who loves showing kids the giant dinosaur leg (bonus: there are fossils of local interest too). (Open year-round 10am–5pm daily; donations encouraged.)

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The VIU Science & Technology Centre on Nanaimo campus has a small fossil and archaeology museum for students and visitors. Its paleontology collection numbers about 1,000 specimens, including fossil plants, marine invertebrates and ice-age mammals. On display is a giant mastodon tusk from the Klondike (Yukon). Though modest, the VIU museum offers a hands-on learning environment for school tours and natural history fans. (Year-round campus museum; by arrangement or open to public during STEM events.)
Read more about the Museum of Natural History

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Organized by the Victoria Palaeontology Society, this two-day Fossil Fair (Spring Break weekend, Tillicum Mall) is very family-friendly. Guests bring in local rocks and fossils for expert identification, and there are hands-on stations for kids – fossil digs, rubbing fossils, scavenger hunts with prizes, and coloring pages. Club members and volunteers display Vancouver Island fossils and offer advice on collecting. (The fair dates are typically late March – check local listings.) (Annual event; no admission fee – open to the public.)

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Not a museum but an outdoor fossil site, the community park in Bowser (near Qualicum Beach) features dozens of petrified tree stumps in the grass and along the shore. These 40–50 million-year-old cedar stumps are remnants of Vancouver Island’s ancient coastal forest. Families can walk a short trail to see and touch the rounded, stone-like stumps (a good excursion when visiting Qualicum). Interpretive signs explain the fossil forest. (Year-round public park; free admission.)

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