The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre admitted during its recent annual general meeting that finding new volunteers and keeping them is a serious challenge.

Mary Ann Cram is the volunteer coordinator for the museum and said that people are busy which makes filling volunteer positions difficult, this hinders the centre's effectiveness regarding its programs and events.

"Retention and recruitment is the main problem," said Cram. "People seem to be very extended these days and we have a hard time getting people in the door to volunteer."

Cram suggested that many in Morden and area have only a surface level familiarity with the museum, thinking it's a small operation. However, she insists this is far from true.

"We're a growing centre and we really need more help. [Volunteers do] everything from cleaning, painting, renovations, manning events, bookkeeping--anything that a business needs."

Cram's statement that the CFDC is growing in undeniable.

Nearly 4,000 more people came through the doors of the museum in 2015 compared to the year before. This includes adults, students, and small children. This increase caused a corresponding up-tick in admissions income, not to mention that of the gift shop. Both sectors reported an income jump of 39 and 35 per cent respectively.

Total income for the centre increased by 36% since 2014 and has doubled since 2013.

Ted Nelson is the secretary and treasurer on the centre's board; he said the fiscal success is due to a major investment in marketing and visibility which resulted in a total income of $106,405.69.

"We had a huge number of things that happened to us: Suzy [the newly unveiled mosasaur skeleton which shares a room with world-record holding Bruce], the participation of Travel Manitoba, and the spread we had in the Canadian Geographic magazine certainly didn't hurt."

Nelson added that the work of executive director Peter Cantelon in garnering media attention toward the museum and its events was also a great asset.

Speaking of the marketing investment the museum made last year, which rose from nearly $9,000 in 2014 to $25,550 in 2015, Nelson said:

"[2015] was a perfect storm of opportunities we were able to capitolize on. More people bring more people. We got great participation from schools and a huge visibility in Winnipeg...our market is Winnipeg."

Nelson said Morden and Winkler and the surrounding area were important communities for the support of the museum, but the centre-of-the-province city was where "the money is".