Popular Albertosaurus packs up and heads to Albert County for the summer

After spending most of the past year on display at Moncton's Resurgo Place, Albert the dinosaur is trading city life for the country breezes of Hopewell Cape.

Lawren Campbell, heritage and culture co-ordinator at Resurgo Place, packed the resin cast of the prehistoric apex predator and delivered him to the Albert County Museum.

It took Campbell about three hours to puzzle together the pieces of Alberta's namesake dinosaur, which roamed the earth more than 65 million years ago and was nearly identical to its cousin, the Tyrannosaurus rex.

Discovered in the Alberta Badlands, an adult Albertosaurus weighed 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms, stood more than three metres and was between seven and nine metres long.

WATCH | Life finds a way. How the museum assembled Albert in his new home:

After speding time with Albert at Resurgo Place for the past year, dinosaur-loving Campbell knows what kind of reactions his counterparts at the Albert County Museum are about to witness.

"When people came around the corner of the exhibit space and saw a full-size Albert that was almost touching the ceiling — the big head and the big teeth — audible gasps from the kids," he said.

"And what's amazing is how much kids know about dinosaurs … kids still love dinosaurs."

Albert the dinosaur is three metres tall, 5.5 metres long and weighs approximately 70 kilograms, said Lawren Campbell, the heritage and culture co-ordinator at Moncton's Resurgo Place. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)

Dinosaur opens a new door

Albert is the centrepiece of a new natural history exhibition at the Albert County Museum, which opens June 15 and will be on display until the end of October.

Janet Clouston, the museum's managing director, said Albert's arrival has created a buzz throughout the community.

"It's inviting, it's exciting, and we're really finding people intrigued by it," she said. "I think there's going to be a beeline … to see Albert."

Albertosaurus, a serrated-tooth carnivore, roamed across Alberta millions of years ago. (Dinopedia)

Clouston said the museum has focused on the history of settlers and newcomers and industry but has never had the opportunity to stretch into natural history until now.

This summer's exhibit will also include fossils found in Albert County from their own collection as well as from the New Brunswick Museum.

"We're hoping even once Albert leaves, that we can continue on with the natural history exhibit," she said.

Starring since 1985 

Albert made its first appearance in New Brunswick in 1985 as part of the Royal Ontario Museum's travelling exhibit.

It came back again in 2023 as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for Moncton's Resurgo Place and Campbell said that was when it became a part of their permanent collection.

"When it was time to ship it back and make those arrangements, they said, 'You know what? It doesn't really fit our mandate? Would you guys like to have it for free?'

"So we took it and decided to market it as something that we could lend out to other institutions," said Campbell.

He said Albert has been popular among kids visiting Resurgo Place and hopefully it will receive the same love from Albert County.

Albert was transported in 10 big pieces, stored in special wooden crates designed for him. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)

Campbell said his team had to adjust Albert's height by tilting its base up, in order to make it fit into the exhibition hall.

Albert's tail had to be raised about 30 centimetres on a pedestal to make it bend forward, and wires were tied to the roof to support its neck, Campbell explained.

"My favourite memory is when the head went on," he said of installing the dinosaur. "When that head goes on it, it kind of becomes real. A real thing that you expect to start moving almost."

Albert the dinosaur will be a part of a dinosaur-themed children's festival in August and the Hillsborough Public Library is offering dinosaur-themed programs while Albert is on display.

Albert the dinosaur will be at the Albert County Museum until the end of October. (Rhythm Rathi/CBC)

"We're building a dinosaur costume that staff can wear. I mean, we're really embracing this theme. It's a tremendous amount of fun," said Clouston.

She also joked about what it will be like to open the doors of the exhibition hall each morning to see Albert looming over her.

"I may not need coffee anymore," Clouston laughed. "It just might be the adrenalin of seeing that."