Tuesday 29 November 2022

DINOSAUR DUO: MARK TURNER AND JACKIE BATES

Mark Turner & Jackie Bates, Associate Producers, BC's Fossil Bounty
Back in 2000, when he was just 11 years old, Mark Turner was tubing down a river in northern British Columbia near Tumbler Ridge and literally fell onto a Dinosaur Trackway. 

The rapids he and his friend Daniel Helm, then 8, were playing in had tossed them into the water. 

When they reached the shore, they looked down to see dinosaur tracks. 

Finding evidence of dinosaurs is the dream for many, kids and adults included. 

While the boys knew what they saw, the adults were not convinced. Daniel had the clever idea to rub baby powder into the dips, nooks and crannies to reveal wide, rounded footprints. 

They were diagnostic and clearly showed dinosaur footprints about 95 to 97 million years old — they showed the clear impression of marks from a four-toed back foot and front feet shaped like crescents, with five bumps for toes — strolling along the creek. 

Mark Turner, DINOSTY, Associate Producer, BC's Fossil Bounty

That discovery launched a community brought to life through palaeontology in Tumbler Ridge and rocked the world with new discoveries.

It is an exciting tale and you will hear it directly from the source as Mark Dale Turner, DINOSTY joins us for Season Two of BC's Fossil Bounty. He is a natural in front of the lens and tells a great tale! 

Mark was an Associate Producer and his talented fiance Jacklynn (Jackie) Joyce Bates was our Locations Manager and Production Assistant for BC's Fossil Bounty — Season One. 

We were thrilled to have this dynamic duo on set with us this week. We welcome them both back as Associate Producers for Season Two.

We are excited to have them both in front of and behind the lens for the show to talk fossils, dinosaur finds and more about their lives together hunting Red Blazers — ammolite ammonites! 

You will love this episode. Look for it SUMMER 2023 on TELUS Optik TV and on the STORYHIVE and ARCHEA YouTube Channels! Funding supported by TELUS STORYHIVE, DINO LAB INC. and DINOSTY.