Hunting Giants: The Dinosaurs of Alberta

Featuring: Professor of Dinosaur Palaeobiology Philip Currie

More than a century ago, Alberta became the epicentre of one of the greatest fossil discoveries in history. Beginning with the “Great Canadian Dinosaur Rush” in 1910, hundreds of spectacular dinosaur skeletons were unearthed from Alberta’s Badlands and shipped to museums around the world, forever changing our understanding of prehistoric life.

Join world-renowned palaeontologist Dr. Philip Currie as he explores the remarkable history of dinosaur discovery in Alberta, from the early fossil expeditions and the birth of Dinosaur Provincial Park and the Royal Tyrrell Museum, to the “Dinosaur Renaissance” that transformed how scientists think about dinosaur behaviour, evolution, and biology.

Today, Alberta remains one of the world’s most important places for dinosaur research. New species continue to be discovered, and advances in technology are revealing extraordinary details about these ancient animals, from feathers and soft tissues to how they lived, hunted, and evolved. Discover why Alberta continues to be at the forefront of palaeontology and why our Badlands still hold secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Date:              Sunday August 23rd, 2026

Starts:             6:00 PM MDT

CONFERENCE VENUE

This year the annual Canadian Paleontology Conference (CPC) will be held at the University of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The meeting will take place over three days, Monday, August 24th to Wednesday, August 26th, 2026. Scientific sessions will be held throughout the day on August 25 and 26 and will include both oral and poster presentations.
An icebreaker event will be held at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum the evening of August 24th, providing opportunity for attendees to connect and network at the start of the conference. An awards banquet and fieldtrips are also currently being planned.

REGISTRATION AND ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Registration will open on May 1, 2026, and the deadline for abstract submission is Monday, June 1, 2026. Participants will be able to register on site; however, advance registration is strongly encouraged. Both registration and abstract submission will be managed through the FourWaves platform. Additional details and instructions will be distributed via email in the coming month. If you have any questions, please e-mail gac.paleontology@gmail.com
This year we will be awarding the Billings Award, intended to acknowledge outstanding contributions to Canadian paleontology. Nominations are strongly encouraged with nomination packages found here. The deadline for nominations is July 6, 2026.