The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (CFDC) in Morden is among seven museums across Manitoba that snagged a Manitoba 150 grant.

Each Star Attraction was granted $23,800 to put towards school and youth programming, exhibits, improving visitor experience, or making other improvements that would support the mandate of conserving and promoting Manitoba's history.

CFDC Executive Director, Adolfo Cuetara, said there are several projects to consider when allocating the money.

"We have a long list of projects in mind, so we started last year a kind of revolution in the museum because there are a lot of displays that are very old," he explained. "Actually, a few weeks ago, I was reviewing some newspaper cuts from the 70s and 80s and I saw a picture of Elizabeth Nichols, that it was the first paleontologist here studying the mosasaurs, in front of one of the displays here in 1984, and the galleries were exactly the same like today. So, we need some improvements in this place, and we have new specimens that we are recovering from the collection room, so we have a lot of projects in mind with skeletons and with specimens."

This includes a specimen that is being researched by Paleontology students and a professor from the University of Manitoba. This specimen is so preserved it still has its stomach contents. Cuetara said there are many projects to consider, and spending this money will not be a problem.

With school divisions across the province limiting and eliminating field trips in the last years, Cuetara also highlighted the desire of the museum to make a stronger connection with kids in school and their heritage in Manitoba through field trips and other possible means.

"I mean, there are a lot of kids coming with their grandparents, and we had a kid, they were so excited saying that it's the best day of their life, just coming to the museum. We are open to the kids right? But we have to communicate with them in in any way."

With the museum only being allowed to open at the end of July, revenue to the museum will be down considerably from other years. Last year, it was open the entire summer, its peak season.

Cuetara says this grant was a huge help and it is great to know there are people in the Manitoba Government that support the work that they do, protecting the heritage of Manitoba.

"It's an encouragement that we are doing a good job." Cuetara exclaimed.