Calgary, Meet RUSTY
You named a dino legend. Now come say Hi.
Calgary Thank you, you came through with creative, clever, science-y and wonderfully weird names for our beloved Albertosaurus.
Why RUSTY ?
Because it just fits.
Rusty is playful, memorable and easy for even our youngest dino fans to say. But behind that little name is some pretty big science.
Look closely and you’ll see scrap metal, rivets, shapes and a distinctive rust-brown patina that has developed over time.
Which gives us a wonderfully simple question:
Why is Rusty rusty?
There’s chemistry in that answer. There’s also materials science, engineering, recycled metal and art, all built right into this one-of-a-kind Albertosaurus.
That’s what we love about Rusty. One fun name can lead to a whole lot of curiosity.
Meet the Young Dino-Namer
Rusty was clearly on Calgary’s mind. The name came up again and again throughout the contest.
Because multiple eligible entrants submitted the winning name, one was randomly selected to receive the Ultimate Dino Prize Pack.
And our winner turned out to be one of our youngest dino-namers!
Four-year-old Milan submitted Rusty through an Albertosaurus colouring sheet and joined us with family for the big reveal.
Even better? Milan’s family are Members of both TELUS Spark Science Centre and the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Serious dino credentials.
How Did Rusty Win?
A 10-member Spark Dino Naming Council put shortlisted names through three rounds of highly scientific scrutiny. Yes, there were fossil votes.
Names were considered for their kid and family appeal, science and dinosaur connection, Calgary relevance, memorability and community enthusiasm.
Three names made it all the way to the final round:
Rusty. Strata. Sprocket.
In the end, Rusty had the winning combination of science, personality, kid appeal and community love.
A Calgary Dino With a Story
Rusty was created by Canadian sculptor Russell Zeid from scrap metal from Alberta and Ontario and was originally commissioned by Chinook Centre for the millennium.
When CBC Eye Opener interviewed Russell the day after the reveal, they asked what he thought of the name, Russel's replied, "The name is perfect. I was named after my dad’s friend Rusty, and I’ve loved rust ever since. I can't wait to tell my dad."
After becoming a familiar sight at Chinook Centre, the giant Albertosaurus eventually made its way to TELUS Spark, watching over Brainasium Outdoor Park for nearly a decade.
And just to be clear: Rusty is an Albertosaurus, not a T. rex!
Albertosaurus lived in what is now Alberta about 70 million years ago, growing to roughly 30 feet long and weighing around three tonnes.
Welcome to the Spark family, Rusty.
Come Meet Rusty!
The contest may be over, but Rusty isn’t going anywhere.
Come find Calgary’s newly named dino in Brainasium Outdoor Park, snap a photo and take a closer look.
Special thanks for our Prize Partners:
