Ultimate Dinosaurs Roar Into the Canadian Museum of Nature

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - June 10, 2016) - There's a new breed of beast in town, all the way from the southern hemisphere. The Canadian Museum of Nature's new blockbuster exhibition, Ultimate Dinosaurs, features dinosaurs from the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. They're bigger, more bizarre, and absolutely a "must-see" this summer.

The show features 16 fully-articulated skeletons, including the imposing, 12-metre-long Giganotosaurus, one of the largest carnivores that ever walked the Earth. Other impressive mounts are: Suchomimus, the crocodile-like dinosaur with 122 teeth, and the huge Amargasaurus, with twin "sails" on its long neck.

"Visitors love our fossil gallery, and Ultimate Dinosaurs, with its fascinating specimens that are unfamiliar to most North Americans, is a great addition to our summer offerings," says Meg Beckel, President and CEO of the Museum. "We're excited to host this world-class exhibition that was created by the Royal Ontario Museum and is presented by the Science Museum of Minnesota."

Ultimate Dinosaurs will run from June 11 to September 5, 2016 at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Its presentation in Ottawa is supported by Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. Toronto and Vancouver have been the two other Canadian venues to host this popular show.

"We are delighted to support the Canadian Museum of Nature in bringing Ultimate Dinosaurs to the National Capital Region," says, Marcelo Regen, Vice President, Allstate Brand, Allstate Insurance Company of Canada. "Dinosaurs continue to amaze both young and old, and we look forward to sharing this experience over the summer at one of Canada's great educational and cultural institutions."

Why are southern dinosaurs so extraordinary and bizarre, and why are they so different from their North American counterparts? As visitors stroll through geological time they learn about the formation of Gondwana roughly 145 million years ago, how creatures evolved there in isolation, and how the supercontinent eventually split into South America, Africa, Madagascar, Australia and Antarctica.

Real fossils, models, tactile bronze casts, activity stations, giant murals, and multimedia also make up the Ultimate Dinosaurs experience. Using augmented reality technology, visitors can see a skeleton transform into a fleshy animal. A reactive video wall with a motion sensor will offer a nice surprise to those who venture close to it.

For more dino fun, visitors will enjoy the variety of hands-on activities offered in different areas of the museum. Make a replica of a fossil tooth or claw in the Fossil Lab, relax in the Dino Zone adjacent to the Lab, learn about 450-million-year-old local fossils in the Nature Live gallery and try some fossil excavation. For a special treat, head to the Theatre to catch the 3D movie Walking with Dinosaurs: Prehistoric Planet (separate fee applies for the 3D movie).

A surcharge (in addition to regular museum admission) applies to the Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibition: $10 for adults; $7 for ages 3-17 and for seniors (65+). Summer hours are in effect, with the museum open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Thursdays and Fridays until 8 p.m.). The museum is located at 240 McLeod St., Ottawa. Follow the museum on Twitter @museumofnature, share the hashtag #UltimateDinos, and like us on Facebook. For more information, visit nature.ca.

The Canadian Museum of Nature is Canada's national museum of natural history and natural sciences. The museum provides evidence-based insights, inspiring experiences and meaningful engagement with nature's past, present and future. It achieves this through scientific research, a 10.5 million specimen collection, education programs, signature and travelling exhibitions, and a dynamic web site, nature.ca.

Allstate Insurance Company of Canada is one of the country's leading producers and distributors of home and auto insurance products, serving Canadians since 1953. Allstate is committed to making a positive difference in the communities in which it operates and has partnered with organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, United Way, and The Canadian Museum of Nature. To learn more about Allstate Canada, visit www.allstate.ca.