Mal-U receives $1,000 donation for fossil shelter

Nanaimo resident Frank Havig has donated $1,000 to Malaspina University-College to help build a permanent shelter over a 70 million year old fossil.

The fossil stays wrapped up most of the year to protect it from weather, but recently students, staff and community members had a rare sneak peek at the monumental rock when it was unwrapped briefly for three days.

“I read about the fossil in the paper and thought why doesn’t someone donate money to build a shelter over it?” said Havig. “The fossil should be preserved but not covered up all year. People need to see it.”

In 1996, construction workers on the Duke Point Highway discovered the amazing fossil while blasting through the 70 million-year old sandstone near the Cranberry Arms Pub in south Nanaimo.

“The rock includes a beautifully preserved specimen of a Cretaceous Palm (Phoenocites imperialis), a giant fern that lived 70 to 75 million years ago. By some fluke, the rock came out of the ground almost intact in a two-metre wide slab, rather than blown into tiny pieces,” explained Geology professor Steve Earle.

“Within a few days, Maggie McColl from Malaspina’s Geology Department at Malaspina was on the case, and after two attempts with cranes that were too small, she finally managed to get it lifted onto a truck and transported to the Malaspina campus in Nanaimo.”

Since that time, the world class fossil has been wrapped up in tarps, and only rarely has it been opened up for public viewing.

“Malaspina has an obligation to preserve and display this fossil and the Geology department is now trying to raise some money on campus and in the community to construct a special building in which to house it,” Earle said.

Havig personally delivered a $1,000 cheque to Earle and palentologist Ken Porteous to help cover costs of building a shelter.

“We’re ecstatic and greatly appreciate Frank’s generosity,” said Earle. “We’ll add his donation to some other money we have saved up. Hopefully, a few other donors will come forward.”

Havig suggests local businesses around town may wish to donate building materials. “I hope my donation gets things started,” he said.

Anyone wishing to donate can contact Rae-Anne Savard at 740-6361. Cheques should be payable to the Malaspina University-College Foundation. Tax receipts will be issued.