Have you ever heard of a Labrador Duck? I hadn’t, until a unique event to be held this weekend at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto was brought to my attention.

The Labrador Duck once inhabited the eastern coast of North America and was a common breeder in the area of Cartwright, Labrador over 300 years ago. It has been extinct for more than 100 years, with only 55 known stuffed specimens in collections, both public and private, around the world.

The ROM has one of these specimens – previously locked in a fireproof safe for decades – that is recognized as the world’s best preserved. They will be bringing it out of the vault on the afternoon of Sunday, September 20 for public viewing from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in conjunction with the release of Dr. Glen Chilton’s new book, The Curse of the Labrador Duck.

Dr. Chilton is a Canadian ornithologist and behavioral biologist who is the world’s leading expert on the Labrador Duck. He has traveled around the globe in search of specimens and stories about this elusive species.

If you’re in the Toronto area, this event is a rare opportunity to learn more about Canada’s natural history.