About us

What do we do?

VanPS members at a field trip near Cranbrook, 2022

We hold meetings every month featuring talks on different aspects of paleontology. Members bring in fossils for discussion, identification, and share field trip information.

We organize fossil field trips from March to October. These range from local day trips to weekend trips. We find fossils on every trip! Once a year, we may plan a week long trip to reach fossils further afield. Past trips have taken us deep into the BC Interior, over to Vancouver Island or down to Washington State, and even further away. Younger members, accompanied by a responsible adult, are welcome on our field trips. Pets are not allowed.

We promote safe and responsible fossil collecting.

We maintain a growing fossil collection for display and educational purposes.

We contribute to the B.C. Paleontological Alliance (BCPA) newsletter, a publication dedicated to paleontology and which includes a calendar of upcoming events, meetings and field trips for all of the regional societies.

What are the goals of the VanPS?

  1. To promote public awareness of our fossil heritage.
  2. To promote safe and responsible fossil collecting.
  3. To provide educational information about ancient life through field trips, presentations and displays.
  4. To bring together amateurs and professionals who share a common interest in fossils.

How do I join?

Membership is open to anyone with an interest in fossils. Our meetings are free and open to the public. Current annual dues are Can$30 for individuals and families. A membership entitles you and your family to receive the BCPA Newsletter and to attend all VanPS field trips, as well as field trips organized by the other regional societies that are part of the BCPA. 

Please see our Membership page to purchase or renew your membership.

When and where are the meetings held?

Date: 3rd Wednesday of every month (unless otherwise mentioned)

Time: 7:00 pm Pacific Time (unless otherwise mentioned)

Location: Currently in person and on Zoom (unless otherwise mentioned). For more details, please see our Calendar page

The meetings are free and open to the public. Members of the executive are available after the lecture to answer your questions.

VanPS Executive

Chair: Perry Poon
Vice-chair: John Fam
Treasurer: Laura Termes
Secretary: Lorice Martens
Director: Brennan Martens
Director: Ji Ai Cho
Director: Leon Pham
Director: Dan Bowden
Website Admin: Sahar Pakzad

Affiliation

The Vancouver Paleontological Society is a member of the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance (BCPA). The BCPA is a broadly-based umbrella organization of professional and amateur paleontologists belonging to regional societies on the west coast of Canada. The Alliance strives to enhance knowledge about paleontology in the Cordillera and to promote the responsible collection of fossils.

The BCPA also attempts to open lines of communication among universities, museums, government agencies and individuals concerned with fossils throughout British Columbia. The Alliance is particularly interested in fostering interactions among all amateur and professional paleontologists.

For information about the BCPA, please visit www.bcfossils.ca