MEDIA RELEASE
November 23, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Grande Prairie 2010 Arctic Winter Games Mascot Finally Hatched
Grande Prairie, Alberta – The 2010 Arctic Winter Games mascot may be Grande Prairie’s newest citizen, but he has a strong resemblance to a renowned creature that roamed the area 72 million years ago.
The mascot - which has yet to be named – was inspired by the pachyrhinosaurus dinosaur. It was hatched from a gigantic egg that rolled onto the ice during the first intermission of the Grande Prairie Storm hockey game.
The mascot’s first official duty will be at next week’s Santa Claus parade. Following the parade, it will be greeting children at the 2010 Arctic Winter Games warm-up party at Muskoseepi Park.
“Our mascot has to appeal to children. Since children love dinosaurs, it seemed very appropriate to create a mascot based on a dinosaur that has such historical significance to our area,” said Debbie Reid, president of the 2010 Arctic Winter Games.
“We surveyed over 200 local children to find out what kinds of characteristics they wanted in a mascot and they were pretty clear that whatever our choice it had to be youthful, friendly-looking, energetic and huggable.”
The species of pachyrhinosaurus discovered in the area caught the attention of the world when bones of five different age sizes of the dinosaur were unearthed just southwest of Grande Prairie at Pipestone Creek. This was to become the largest single species bonebed in the world. Just last month the dinosaur was officially dubbed Pachyrhinosaur lakusti in honour of the Grande Prairie school teacher who discovered it.
While the site is the northernmost occurrence of the pachyrhinosaurus in Canada, other fossils of the arctic dinosaur have been found at different sites in Alberta and Alaska.
The public will have an opportunity to help name the “teenage” mascot by logging onto www.awg2010.org and providing suggestions.
The prehistoric ambassador will be making appearances throughout the region before the games, welcoming visitors to the Games and generating excitement about the international sport and cultural event.
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Contact:
Debbie Reid
President, 2010 Arctic Winter Games
Cell: (780) 512-6346