FIELD, BRITISH COLUMBIA, September 5, 2009 – Today, on behalf of the Honourable Jim Prentice, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, and the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, the Honourable Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Cooperation and Member of Parliament for Kootenay–Columbia, announced a 365,000 dollars investment from the Department of Canadian Heritage to the Royal Ontario Museum and Parks Canada for the creation of the Virtual Museum website dedicated to the Burgess Shale. These funds are provided through the Virtual Museum of Canada program and will present a new way of learning about one of the world's most celebrated fossil beds.
"A virtual museum is a unique way to share with Canadians the discoveries unearthed at the Burgess Shale," said Minister Moore. "Collecting and sharing this information is integral to preserving Canada's history."
This announcement was made during an event with Canadian Pacific and the Royal Ontario Museum, celebrating the 100th birthday of the Burgess Shale and the Spiral Tunnels – two national icons in Yoho National Park of Canada.
“Canadians should take great pride in celebrating the centennial of the Spiral Tunnels and the Burgess Shale in Yoho National Park,” said Mr. Abbott. “These celebrations underscore the tremendous achievements made by Canadians in the protection and preservation of its unique engineering and natural wonders.”
1909 marked a year of incredible discovery and an awe-inspiring engineering marvel leading to one hundred years of successful railway operations through Kicking Horse Pass in Yoho National Park.
Trains tackling the steep western slope of kicking Horse Pass in Yoho National Park wind their way through the Spiral Tunnels. The figure-eight track was completed by Canadian Pacific in 1909. An integral part of the railway’s network, almost 30 trains a day continue to use the spiral Tunnels, providing the most direct route between central and eastern North America and Canada’s Pacific Gateway.
“The Spiral Tunnels provide Canada with a safe and reliable passage to import and export goods and raw materials,” said Canadian Pacific Vice-President of Operations Mike Fanczak. “CP is proud to have participated in today’s festivities by donating a centennial train ride through the tunnels to the community of Field.”
Capacity upgrades and computerized controls ensure safe and reliable train service in all weather, every day of the year. The Trans Canada Highway follows the original “Big Hill” rail grade and sees more than 120,000 visitors every summer at the Spiral Tunnels Viewpoint in Yoho National Park.
The Burgess Shale centennial commemorates what is arguably one of the most important fossil discoveries in the world. In 1909, Charles Walcott, an American geologist and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, first discovered the Burgess Shale. Since that time, the fossil beds have helped shape our current understanding of the very nature of evolution.
William Thorsell, Director and CEO of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) stated: “Under the leadership of former curator Desmond Collins, the Royal Ontario Museum conducted the most extensive exploration of the Burgess Shale between 1975 and 2000, and holds the world’s largest collection of its fossils. Their story, describing the “Big Bang of Life” in the oceans some 505 million years ago, will be told in the ROM’s new Peter Bronfman Gallery of Early Life, which will open in several years.”
The ROM is a major contributor to the study of the Burgess Shale. The Museum has led dozens of field explorations and excavations since 1975, and now holds the world’s largest collection of Burgess Shale specimens, over 150,000 specimens in total.
Information:
Tania Peters
Executive Services and Media Relations
Lake Louise, Yoho and Kootenay Field Unit
Parks Canada
403-522-1277
Mike LoVecchio
Senior Manager, Media Relations
Canadian Pacific
778-772-9636
Shelagh O’Donnell
Acting Manager, Communications
Royal Ontario Museum
416-586-5858