B.C. man places giant dinosaur in front yard to inspire Jurassic joy

Adam finds out the story behind a holiday display featuring a giant animatronic dinosaur.

VANCOUVER, B.C. — Long before he placed a giant triceratops named Tommy in his front yard in Canada, Andy Vu was growing up as a dinosaur-loving boy in Vietnam.

“I’m very small, I like dinosaur,” Andy says. “But in Vietnam, I’m very poor.”

Very poor, but very positive he could make a better life for himself in Canada.

“When I come to Canada, I work hard,” Andy says. He also always worked with a smile.

He decided to never spend money on “smoking and drinking,” and invest his savings into making his house feel like a home.

He decorated his backyard with little dinosaurs for his own pleasure, before happening upon a used animatronic dinosaur on Facebook Marketplace, and buying Tommy to fill his front yard and inspire happiness in others.

“For waiting for the bus in the morning,” Andy gestures to the bus stop in front of his home which sits along a very busy street.

Andy’s front yard is filled with fun. Half the area features a colourful waterfall surrounded statues of all sorts of animals, including small dinosaurs. The other side features the dinosaur. Andy says his dynamic decorating is for all the commuters, so they can start their day with a smile.

Even better, when he powers up his prehistoric pet, Andy hopes to inspire Jurassic joy.

Andy starts laughing when Tommy’s tail starts swaying, and the dinosaur’s head begins roaring. The laughter is infectious.

And that’s how a boy born into poverty grew up to be a man who realized his childhood dream of having a dinosaur by filling his front yard with an abundance of priceless fun.

“When they’re happy,” Andy says of the people passing his home, “I’m happy too.”

If you want to be happy, make others happy. Advice that will never go extinct.