Dan Aykroyd Lends Star Power to Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum Grand Opening

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB, Sept. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - The Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum will celebrate its grand opening on September 26, 2015 with famous actors, scientists, museum professionals, and musicians at the Amber Ball Gala. Actor Dan Aykroyd will kick-start the day at 10:30 am with a Harley Davidson Ride from Mighty Peace Harley Davidson Dealership in Grande Prairie to the Museum in Wembley. Every participant will have free admission and a tour with the Aykroyd family, who are staunch supporters of the museum.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150916/267034)

After the unveiling of the museum cornerstone and naming of the Powell Path at the Pipestone Creek site, the day culminates in the Amber Ball Grand Celebration, starting at 6:00pm at the Entrec Centre in Grande Prairie. (Details and tickets available at www.Dinomuseum.ca). In addition to guests of honour, Dan Aykroyd and Donna Dixon Aykroyd, the black-tie event will feature entertainment by Jim Cuddy Trio and blues singer, Colin James.

Dr. Philip J. Currie, Dr. Eva Kopplehus and a University of Alberta crew will dig for fossils at the Pipestone Creek Bone Bed from 8:30am to 2:00pm on September 25 and 26. Dr. Currie's contributions to the world of paleontology have broadened knowledge of the late Cretaceous Period and signaled potential for future discoveries in the vicinity. At the heart of Dr. Currie's motivations is to imagine dinosaurs as living animals in their ancient environments.

The museum opened its doors on September 3, welcoming over 5500 visitors in the first two days. The exhibits immerse visitors in an interactive virtual ecosystem that comes close to achieving Dr. Currie's imagined world when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

"This is a world-class museum that shares Canada's rich fossil heritage with a global audience. This award-winning building has been completed on budget in record time and is the only museum in North America to offer helicopter rides over dinosaur bone-beds," says George Jacob, founding President and CEO of the Museum.

Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum is an international institute for experiential learning dedicated to the palaeontological heritage of Alberta through research, collection, preservation, exhibition, public programming, publications and innovative outreach. For more information and hi-res images/media kits, visit http://dinomuseum.ca.

SOURCE Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum