The University of Calgary has made history, setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as dinosaurs. A total of 682 people in inflatable dinosaur costumes converged on the university's main campus Saturday as part of its 60th-anniversary celebrations.
The crowd of rexes, stegosauruses, and pterodactyls gathered outside the Taylor Family Digital Library, easily surpassing the previous record of 468. The achievement marks a triumphant moment for the university and the broader Calgary community, which came together for a day of festivities.
The record attempt was the centrepiece of the university's diamond jubilee. The day-long event also included a free barbecue, live music, campus tours, and a panel discussion with five Olympians who have ties to the institution.
A community roars together
The atmosphere was electric as participants, including students, alumni, staff, and local residents, bounced and waddled to the tunes of local a cappella band the Heebee Jeebees while official scrutineers completed the count. University officials noted that approximately 700 people had registered to take part, signalling strong community buy-in from the start.
The old record is extinct. This is just a great example of the University of Calgary and our Calgary community coming together to set a world record.
Kheshni Bisto, a recent graduate who now works at the university, said she was thrilled to be part of the celebration. “It’s really nice to celebrate it, and just being part of breaking a world record is so exciting,” she said. The sentiment was shared by many, including university employee Laura Wan, who attended with her dog, Ollie, also in a dino costume. “It’s a chance to make history. It’s awesome to be part of it,” Wan said. “The other side of me is, I just want a really good chance to wear a crazy outfit.” The event showcased the diverse fabric of Calgary's varied communities coming together for a common, albeit quirky, goal. This event is similar to a recent initiative where a young entomologist showcased ants for a global nature challenge.
Verity Turpin, the university’s vice provost of student experience, expressed her confidence even before the final tally was announced. “I knew we had it,” she said. “It’s what the University of Calgary does.”
More than a mascot
The dinosaur theme is a nod to the university's athletics teams, the UCalgary Dinos, and their popular mascot, Rex O'Saurus. The mascot has been a campus fixture for decades, with the current Rex following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Dexter. This deep-rooted connection to dinosaurs made the world record attempt a natural fit for the anniversary.
This was not the first time an Alberta community has vied for the title. In 2024, an attempt in Drumheller, the heart of Canada's Badlands, drew over 3,000 costumed participants. However, the record was denied on a technicality, highlighting the strict criteria set by Guinness World Records. UCalgary had an official adjudicator on-site to ensure all rules were followed and to verify the final count.
While celebrating the new record, President McCauley also emphasized the university's daily achievements. He said the school “set(s) records every day in the world, in terms of the work that we do in health care and education and arts and science and engineering.” He confirmed that the official plaque will be displayed prominently on campus where the entire community can see it.
An Olympian's homecoming
The anniversary event also featured a keynote address from two-time Olympic speed skating champion Catriona Le May Doan. She spoke about her journey and the foundational role the university and its Olympic Oval played in her career.
Le May Doan, who started her degree at UCalgary before her professional athletic career took off, described the campus as her home. “Our entire life was here,” she said, reflecting on her years of training at the Oval. Now a regular visitor, she said returning for the milestone celebration was “wonderful.”
Her presence underscored the university's long-standing contribution to Canadian sport and its role as a hub for high-performance athletes, adding another layer of achievement to the day's celebrations.
Reflecting on the day's success, Vice Provost Verity Turpin thanked the participants for their spirit. “On behalf of the university, thank-you for everyone who has come, shown their UCalgary pride (and) shown that we’re all Dinos,” she said.
