(l-r) Matthew, Alex, Dale and Linda Williams, winners of CTV’s Canada AM “Digging in the Badlands” contest, were greeted by Tourism President Bob Long. CTV was here in May to help launch the Canadian Badlands marketing campaign.
Locals can routinely see dinosaurs throughout their day, and most have probably been to the Royal Tyrrell Museum numerous times, but for the winners of CTV’s Canada AM “Digging in the Badlands” contest, it’s all new and wonderful.
“I’ve always seen dinosaurs on t.v. and read about them, but to see them in person - it’s eye opening. It’s amazing,” said Dale Williams.
Dale and Linda Williams with sons Matthew, 13, and Alex 10, from Pool’s Cove, Newfoundland, were in town this week enjoying their prize.
“It was so neat coming down into the valley,” said Linda. “Hills!”
Dale added it’s quite the experience driving on the flatlands, “It’s so vast.”
The family arrived Monday, August 25, and were kept busy enjoying the local attractions.
Their Tuesday trip to the Royal Tyrrell included a dig and behind the scenes tour with the museum’s Dr. Don Henderson.
Linda shared a picture of the fossil, ten-year-old Alex unearthed on the dig - a clear cross-section of a pine cone.
Dad Dale enjoyed the behind the scenes tour immensely, appreciating that he got to try out the air brush tool used for wearing away rock around a fossil.
The family also visited reptile world, and Alex had a small album’s worth of photos on his phone he kindly shared.
Wednesday’s scheduled tour was to the Atlas Coal Mine, the Hoodoos, and the East Coulee School Museum.
Towards the end of the family’s day, Linda said the kids started asking if they get to go in the hotel pool.
The kids love the waterslide, and Linda said she’d never been on one before, but gave it a try. She ended up tiring herself out on it.
Thursday the Williams headed for Brooks and Dinosaur Provincial Park, and then it was off to Calgary for Friday.
The Williams were considering visiting the Calgary Zoo, with Linda adding that getting in some shopping would be nice, especially with fewer taxes in Alberta.
The family flew back home Friday, and in that wonderful Newfoundland style, they said to let them know if ever we headed out their way to visit.
