The 30-foot dinosaur statue at Calgary’s Telus Spark Science Centre now has a name. The towering Albertosaurus is located outside by the Brainasium Outdoor Park and can be seen from Deerfoot Trail. Despite being a part of the science centre for a decade, the dino never had a name. This summer, officials decided to change that, inviting Calgarians to submit their suggestions. After receiving 1,200 entries, a 10–member committee voted and determined the winning moniker. The Telus Spark announced on Wednesday the dino would henceforth be named Rusty. Prior to living at the Telus Spark, Rusty’s residence was at Chinook Centre. He was built by Canadian sculptor Russell Zeid using scrap metal from Alberta and Ontario. “It is rusty,” said Guy Labine, president & CEO of the Telus Spark. “I love it.” The winning name came from four-year-old Milan Motamedi who entered through a colouring contest. Labine says the boy’s family not only has a membership at the Telus Spark – but at the Royal Tyrrell Museum too. “Obviously, science and paleontology and dinosaurs are something they know really well; it’s especially fitting.” While Motamedi may have given the Albertosaurus statue a name, he says his favourite type of dinosaur is the T. rex. “Because it’s the king of the dinosaurs.”
