What began as a special fossil display at our 2014 gem show became an opportunity to bring one of Canada's most remarkable fossil stories directly into local secondary schools.
From Marvellous Mud to the Classroom
Our 2014 annual show, Marvellous Mud, featured a display of Burgess Shale fossil casts on loan to the Port Moody Rock and Gem Club from the Royal Ontario Museum.
The loan lasted six months. When the show ended, club members saw an opportunity to make the most of that time by sharing the casts beyond the show floor and bringing them into the community.
Two Burgess Shale Nights
Special evening events were hosted at Riverside Secondary School in Port Coquitlam and Port Moody Secondary School in Port Moody.
Alongside the Burgess Shale casts, the club displayed fossils from other well-known fossil localities in British Columbia, Wyoming and China, creating a broader look at fossil preservation and ancient life.
Fossils Up Close
Visitors were encouraged to do more than simply look at specimens from a distance. Magnifying glasses and microscopes allowed students to examine fossil details for themselves and turn the evening into a hands-on learning experience.
Retired geology teacher Eria Williams also hosted a slideshow and presentation on the Burgess Shale in an adjoining room, adding geological context to the specimens on display.
Sharing Knowledge One Conversation at a Time
The evenings also gave club members and volunteers a chance to speak directly with students, families and teachers about fossils, geology and the stories preserved in stone.
That personal interaction was an important part of the project. A fossil could be examined under a lamp, compared with another specimen and discussed with someone who could help explain what the visitor was seeing.
A Community Effort
The project depended on cooperation between club volunteers, educators and local schools. The club was particularly grateful to earth sciences teachers Teena Della of Riverside Secondary School and Aliisa Sarte of Port Moody Secondary School for supporting the events at their schools.
Port Coquitlam
One of two local schools that opened its doors for an evening of fossils, geology and hands-on discovery.
Port Moody
The second school to host the project, extending the educational outreach across the Tri-Cities community.
More Than a Show Display
Burgess Shale Nights is a good example of what a lapidary society can contribute beyond workshops and gem shows. A temporary museum loan became a community education project, connecting students with fossils, geology and deep time in a direct and memorable way.
It also reflected a long-standing philosophy of the club: interesting rocks, minerals and fossils become even more valuable when they are shared.