Friday morning a new attraction on the west side of the City of Morden was erected. It was almost a year ago to the day that the replica of Bruce the Mosasaur was unveiled on the east side of the city and now the Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (CFDC) has a life size Archelon Ischyros on display at the corner of 19th street and Thornhill street.

"After we unveiled Bruce it became apparent that the appetite for these type of things was pretty strong," said CFDC Executive Director Peter Cantelon. "We had a lot of positive feedback about the sculpture and the idea of bringing the museum into the public space. This allows us to offer something of an educational, fun, and exciting experience. As well, as a tourism opportunity within the whole community."

Cantelon explained this was a great opportunity to help bring more people into the community of Morden instead of just to the museum. He added this is another step toward making Morden the tourist attraction that it's already.

With the acceptance and excitement of the addition of Bruce the Mosasaur a year ago Cantelon stated a second installment like it became something of interest for the Museum. Then came the planning stage of what they were going to have made.

"We picked the Archelon party because we have we have Archelon fossils which tells us these turtles swam the sea's that were over Manitoba and Morden, but also because you can see it significantly. It's huge and the replica is life size," said Cantelon about the roughly 16-foot long replica. "It has an effect and impact on people. They see it when they drive by and pull in to see it."

The large replica was made right in Morden by Adolfo Cuetara, who moved to the City about two years ago from South America. Cuetara completed the entire replica by himself, in his free time, for free, and in about three months time.

"I started to work as a volunteer for the museum a couple of years ago and I told Peter Cantelon the Executive Director that there was a possibility that I would like to make some kind of sculpture in my free time," said Cuetara. "After some time he proposed for me to make a giant turtle because they actually have some bones from this kind of turtle in the museum."

Curetara noted this is truly a passion of his and is happy he is able to help make by taking on these types of projects. He added it took around 200 working hours to complete.

A naming contest will begin immediately to give the sculpture its official name. You can email suggestion to info@discoverfossils.com and a list of the top five names will be announced October 1st.

Cantelon stated if they are still able to find sponsors for these type of projects, they'd like to continue making and displaying them around the City in the future.