The winning fossil would be added to the official Provincial Symbols of B.C.

The government wants British Columbians to choose a fossil to represent the province

COURTENAY (NEWS 1130) – British Columbians who haven’t yet marked their ballots in a referendum on electoral reform could distract themselves a little longer by voting for an official fossil symbol for the province.

The Forests and Lands Ministry came up with the online vote after the Royal BC Museum in Victoria received a donation of 18,000 fossils dating back 52 million years.

There are seven fossil candidates to choose from and the curator of the Courtenay and District Museum and Paleontology Centre is rooting for a 15-metre marine reptile, the Elasmosaur, to win big.

The other candidates for official fossil of B.C. are the ammonite, salmon, lace crab, trilobite, ichthyosaur and yabeina columbiana.

Pat Trask says the discovery of the Elasmosaur in 1988 contributed to the growth of palaeontology in the province as amateurs and professionals came together to discuss the find.

He says international scientists have gone through the Courtenay museum’s collections that were found on Vancouver Island to describe new creatures.

The government chose the candidates based on how well known and easily recognizable they were, how well they reflected the unique geography of B.C., and their general appeal.

The voting period closes on Nov. 23. The winning fossil will be added as one of the province’s official symbols.