Courtenay & District Museum




  • BC Historical Federation Historical Writing Competition Finalist
  • Canada Day Open House
  • Silhouette Exhibit
  • Your Membership Makes A Difference
  • Fossil Tours
  • Photo of the Month
  • Summer Hours
  • Watershed Moments
  • Museum Funding






  • Phone:
    250-334-0686

    Email:
    museum@island.net

    Website:
    www.courtenaymuseum.ca

    Mailing Address:
    207 Fourth Street,
    Courtenay BC,
    V9N 1G7





    Tuesday to Saturday:
    10am - 5pm

    Sunday & Monday:
    Closed





    President
    John Wilson

    Vice President
    Daryl Wright

    Past President
    April Shopland

    Rick Ross
    Jim Haggart
    Ross Dingwall
    Mary Everson

    Secretary/Treasurer
    Elizabeth Braithwaite

    Member of...

    British Columbia Museums Association

    Canadian Museums
    Association

    Archives Association of
    British Columbia

    Heritage Society of British Columbia





    Comox Museum

    Cumberland Museum

    Comox Air Force Museum

    Filberg Heritage Lodge

    The Alberni Project




     


    BC Historical Federation Historical Writing Competition Finalist

    Celebrating books that make significant contributions to the historical literature of British Columbia

    The British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF) is pleased to announce the winners for the Annual Historical Writing Competition. The prizes were awarded on Saturday, May 28, 2016 at the Revelstoke Mountain Resort in Revelstoke, BC at the BCHF Annual Conference. Congratulations to all the winners.

    The Honourable Judith Guichon, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia presented the BC Lieutenant Governor's Medal for historical writing and $2,500 to Ronald A. Greene for Carlo Gentile, Gold Rush Photographer, 1863-1866 by Ronald A. Greene (Greene Frogge Press).

    2nd prize, $1500. Ferries & Fjords: The History of Indian Arm by Ralph Drew (self-published).

    3rd prize, $500. Watershed Moments: A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District by Christine Dickinson, Deborah Griffiths, Judy Hagen & Catherine Siba (Harbour Publishing).

    Learn more about the British Columbia Historical Federation at their website.


     


    Canada Day Open House

    Our annual Canada Day open house is fast approaching! Drop by the Courtenay and District Museum after the parade and help celebrate our country's birthday.

    There will be free admission, balloons and door prize draws between 12 noon and 4 pm.

    Special activities will include cupcake walks for all ages and a hands-on craft for kids.

    Musical entertainment will be provided by the talented Alan Jossul.

    Canada Day is a great chance to explore history with us at the museum.


     


    Silhouette Exhibit

    A private collector has graciously loaned us a sampling of her silhouette items for a short term display running the month of July.

    Silhouettes are the coloured pictures that are painted on the back side of glass. You might also know them as reverse painting on glass. They were most common from the 1920s through the early 1950s and were often given out as business promotional gifts or sold at dime stores.

    A variety of subjects (silhouettes are much more than just head profiles) and forms have been chosen for this display so please do make a point of dropping in to enjoy this exhibit.


     

    Your Membership Makes A Difference

    Purchasing a membership to the Courtenay and District Museum, now in its 55th year, supports heritage preservation in the Comox Valley through special events, lectures, education programmes, research and exhibitions. Your membership benefits these award winning programmes on a year round basis and we appreciate it!

    Becoming a member provides you with discounts in the gift shop and on lectures and an opportunity to support one of the most active regional museums in British Columbia. Thank you for your support.

    Click here to Join


     


    Fossil Tours

    Public tours are up and running!

    Click here to find out more about how you can be part of this adventure.


     


    Photo of the Month

    CDM #990.24.249
    Ploughing, c. 1905

    You can view more photos like this on our website. Click here to visit our holdings.


     


    Summer Hours

    Open Seven Days a Week

    The Courtenay and District Museum is now on its summer operating schedule and is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00 and Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 until Labour Day. As always, members visit free.


     

    Watershed Moments

    Here now is an image and quote from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District.


    Photo credit: CDM 2009.11.1

    Photo caption: Out for a ride, ca. 1890. On horseback left to right: Ernest Halliday, Lilly Kirby, David Jones, Elizabeth Grieve, Berkeley Grieve, Jane Finley, H. Kirby, M. Halliday, William Halliday, Caroline Kirby. Page 121.

    "Living It Up...Even while people faced major world events, such as the Great War (1914-1918), life in the Comox Valley required living it up. Dance, theatre, music, the arts and, most important, humour, were and continue to be, mainstays of valley life." Page 121.

    Psst! Don't forget to pick up your copy of the book at the museum gift shop, too.

    Click Here for a Larger Version


     

    Museum Funding

    The Courtenay and District Historical Society was registered as a nonprofit society in 1961 to preserve and interpret cultural and natural heritage of the Comox Valley. It has functioned as an independent society since that time. Funds are derived from the generous support of the City of Courtenay, British Columbia Arts Council, Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia Gaming Branch, and from museum generated revenues and donations.

    Proud sponsors of the Courtenay & District Museum:

    The City of Courtenay

    BC Arts Councils

    Regional District Comox-Strathcona