January 1999

Dinosaurs are a Billion Dollar Business [page 1]

During the evening, Dr Currie had the opportunity to meet the Beauchamp family, Terry (L) Greg, Adam, Scot, and Ellen.

In a spellbinding presentation, Dr. Philip Currie, Curator of Dinosaurs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, gave a family audience an insight into the world of paleontology.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum is located in Drumheller, Alberta, a town of about 7,000 people. This state-of-the-art facility cost the Alberta government $30 million to build. Each year the museum attracts an estimated $15 million worth of tourist dollars to the local economy.

Dr. Currie who is one of only 30 full time paleontologist, has worked around the world for over 20 years, and this evening he gave his attentive audience a detailed account looking for dinosaurs in China. His several visits there, the fine points of camping in the Gobi Desert, and the different comfort levels of group dynamics. Canadian researches tended to work in smaller groups and individually as opposed to the Chinese scientists who felt more comfortable so what larger group settings.

Dr Phillip Currie with Emily and John Marsh.

During one of his visits, Dr. Currie was shown a fossil of a dinosaur that had only been found very recently. The dinosaur appeared to have feathers. Dr. Currie said he never could have dreamt the storm of controversy his announcement of the findings would provoke. The rest of Currie's presentation graphically detailed subsequent findings, along with photographs, that supported his original contention. This begs the question, did birds evolve from dinosaurs? The answer is both yes and no. The birds of today did evolve from the same roots as did dinosaurs, they are not exactly a miniature of Tyrannosaurs Rex in a tree. There is strong evidence that their ancestors did coexist during the same period as the big guy.

Simon McKee, son of LCol Ross McKee, shows off his Dinosaur Provincial Park pin to Dr Currie proving he had visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

After his presentation, Dr. Currie took over a dozen questions from the audience. A highlight of the question period, were the sophisticated and knowledgeable nature of the questions asked by some very young members guests. Afterwards Dr. Currie was inundated with requests for autographs.

David Armour, who surprised many guests with his questions to Dr Currie.

RCMI Staff celebrate Christmas [page 3]

Col the Hon Robert Rutherford, Renata Trytko, LCol Gerald Leventon, Wieslawa Sliwa, and Capt Charles Scot-Brown.

Christian Philipsz and Robin Rodes

Len Pelletier (L) and Mary Jurca (R) with General Manager Norbert Luth.

Durward McGimsie enjoys his first Christmas at the Institute.

Veterans do not get their just desserts [page 7]

In his address, Mr. Clifford Chadderton, the Chairman, National Council of Veteran Associations, gave his luncheon audience in the Simcoe Lounge an insight into the behind the scenes jousting that takes place during marquee Veteran Affairs visits overseas. He described how the political heavy weights, with the help of their light weight public affairs flunkies, attempt to hijack the photo opportunities and dominate the 30 second sound-bites. It is almost as if there is an orchestrated attempt to obscure the veterans from the media. These survivors are the very people whose courage, determination, and guts carved the right for most Canadian politicians to be seen in the light of day in a public place. This especially disturbing when you consider that current Minister of Veterans Affairs was a Flag Officer.

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