As the years continue to pass by, the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (CFDC) in Morden continues to experience increased revenue and attendance numbers, and 2015 was no different.

"2015 saw an increased investment by the City of Morden, into the CFDC. That translated into us (the Museum) being able triple our marketing budget," explained Executive Director Peter Cantelon. "In the last two years we re-focused our entire marketing strategy, onto the largest nearby market, which is Winnipeg. By doing those things it's paid off. We've seen a significant increase in public awareness, who we are and what we are about. The awareness in Winnipeg has translated into increased media coverage, its translated into being nominated for awards, that we wouldn't have been nominated for before. Those things in turn have fed public awareness."

Cantelon noted if weren't for the staff and volunteers of the CFDC, none of this would have been possible.

With the increased attendance and revenue over 2015, Cantelon noted it allowed the Museum to make a contingency fund for the first time in the CFDC's history.

The City of Morden is currently in year two of a five year funding agreement with the City's council. He added as the years go on during this agreement the amount will continue to decrease over the term. He stated this year's funding is similar to what they received in 2014, which makes them strive to find additional revenue to make the Museum grow year in and year out.

When you have a lot of awards, unveilings, and other significant events through out the year it can be hard to pick just one.

"The biggest thing for me last year was the addition of Suzy in March of 2015. There was so many things about Suzy that were phenomenal. That had been a project that had been in the works, well before I had even arrived to the Museum in 2012. It's something that finally came to fruition in 2015. We got this phenomenal thirty foot Mosasaur to join Bruce in Mosasaur hall. From a marketing and customer perspective, it was phenomenal. From a scientific perspective it is the most accurately depicted Mosasaur on display anywhere in the world, based on the most current science."

Cantelon went on to say, the unveiling of Suzy the Mosasaur, beat out his second favourite memory of 2015, which was getting Bruce the Mosasaur into the Guinness World Record book.

According to Cantelon 2015 will be a tough year to beat, but they thought the same after 2014, and just look at what happened in 2015.

"With the right people, which I believe that we have, and the right kind of investment. I think that 2016 can be more successful," outlined Cantelon. "Because of the potential of the CFDC has been barley tapped. With the large number of people within a two hour drive of this location. We are just scratching the surface."

He noted in 2016 there should be some significant exhibit changes, Morden residents will be able to enter the Museum free of charge in March, for a third consecutive year, and many other things that are yet to come, but are still in the planning stages or haven't placed themselves in front of the staff at the CFDC.

pic: cfdcstaff_2015

caption: L:R - Administrator - Trevor Fehr, Field and Collection Manager - Victoria Markstrom, and Executive Director - Peter Cantelon