Welcome to our website
The Vancouver Island Paleontological Society (VIPS) is a non-profit society of professional and amateur paleontologists based in Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada.
The Society was formed after the discovery of a large marine reptile called an Elasmosaur along the banks of the Puntledge River.
The 80 million year old fossilized skeleton was found by Mike Trask and his daughter Heather in 1988.
Upcoming Field Trips and Lectures for 2025
To the members of the VIPS: The VIPS plans to have a field trip each month. We also have a VIPS meeting on the second Wednesday of each month. All are welcome.
Most field trips leave from VIPS’s President Dan Bowen’s place. Please call or text Dan at 1-250-897-5026 to confirm, and/or meet at 2120 Stewart Ave., Courtenay, BC. I will update the events periodically based on weather or conflicts.
February 23 Sunday, VIPS AGM 1:30 pm at the Courtenay Museum
Then at 2:30-3:30 pm, presentation by Dan Bowen of the fossil discoveries and highlights of 2024. Bring your latest fossil discovery for show and tell.
March 9 Sunday, Doumont Road field trip
Lower Motor cross area and also upper pits of Doumont Road. Leave Courteney at 8:15 am or meet at the Doumont Road gate at 9:15am. I don’t think there are any activities there yet. Surface collecting and some digging. Looking for the ammonite Canadoceras yokoyamai.
March 30 Sunday, Hornby Islandfield Trip #1
Depart from Dan’s at 8:10 am or meet at the Buckley Bay ferry to catch the 9:00 am to Denman, arrive Hornby 11:00 am. Find what the winter storms turned up. Carpool. At 12:20 pm 4.2 ft low tide. Our target is Collishaw Point.
April 6 Sunday, Memekay River, Marine Jurassic site
This site is unique for Vancouver Island, a first for some species of ammonites, bivalves and gastropods recorded here. The route in is complicated and we will meet at my house at 8:00 am then meet again at the Big Tree Creek FSR intersection at 9:00am and all drive in together.
April 15 Sunday, Hornby Islandfield Trip #2
Depart from Dan’s at 8:15 am or meet at the Buckley Bay ferry to catch the 9:00 am to Denman, arrive Hornby 11:00 am. Find what the winter storms turned up since March 30th. Carpool. At 12:00 pm 4.6 ft low tide. Our target includes Phipps to Maning Point or south to the red zone.
May 12-16 Escalante, Fly in via Nootka Air from Gold River
Eocene exposures, fossil crabs, and important finds. Isopods, fossil mammal and bird bones last year. Limited to five people. This trip is full. Prepare for five days of wilderness camping.
July 24-29 Yellow Bluff Bay field trip
Drive to Tahsis and stay overnight there to catch the boat next day at 7:00 am. Boat trip from Tahsis travel north of Nootka Island then into Esparanza Inlet to YBB. We will base camp there then hike one hour to Tatchu Point and Sandstone Point. For the more energetic members we will go to…
August 3 Sunday VIPS annual Saber-tooth salmon BBQ
At Dan’s. 2120 Stewart. Bring friend(s), food, beverage, lawn chair(s) and auction item(s). Socialize 4:00-5:30 pm, dinner 5:30 -6:30 pm, silent auction 6:30-7:30 pm. Music by Jay.
August 22-25, Friday to Tuesday BCPA-VIPS Paleontological Symposium
Friday: meet ‘n greet. Saturday: Presentations. Sunday: Presentations, fossil prep workshop and field trip. Monday: Field trip to Hornby Island. All welcome. See details here.
“Evolution is life to continue”
Anonymous, November 14, 1999
Geology of Vancouver Island
Did you know?
The oldest rocks on Vancouver Island are Devonian in age (ca. 370 m.y.) and include sea-floor and terrestrial volcanic rocks as well as some limestone of the Sicker and Buttle Lake Groups.
