Category Archives: Museum News

Elasmosaur Wants Your Vote!

Have you cast your vote for yet for the Provincial Fossil? The Comox Valley’s own elasmosaur is in the running and needs your support.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development has announced a final competition for a Provincial Fossil to be added to the official Provincial Symbols of British Columbia.

The online voting process uses a web-based questionnaire tool, SurveyMonkey, which allows one vote per computer profile and includes a simple verification step to avoid development of computer scripts for automatic votes.

Here’s the link where you can see all seven candidates and make your choice. The voting period will close November 23, 2018.

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.

This Space for Rent

Did you know that the museum has two spaces available to rent for public gatherings?

The spacious first floor Rotary Gallery has seen many a lecture, presentation and party.

There is also a space on the second floor known as the Dogwood Gallery. This area can accommodate approximately 25 people in theatre style seating or comfortably seat 10 around the board room table. Wifi is available.

Rental of the Dogwood or Rotary Gallery is on a first come/first served basis.

For more information on rental fees and requirements please give us a call at 250-334-0686 ext 5.

Holiday Reading and Gift Suggestions

Comox Air Force Museum

The Comox Air Force Museum: Our First Thirty Years by Colonel (Ret.) Jon Ambler. Available for a $30 donation at the museum Gift Shop, with stock arriving by 8 December.

Comox Museum and Archives

St. Joseph’s General Hospital – 100 Years of service

Ghost Ships of Royston -Rick James

(both available at the Comox Museum)

Courtenay and District Museum

Black Creek Settlement– John Falk’s Memoirs and More sells for $20; James’ Stories of Our Founders for $15. Copies of the books are only available through the authors. For Memoirs and More email elvera.falk@gmail.com and for Stories of Our Founders call Poplar Publishing at 250-338-0597.

Comox Valley Memories-Judy Hagen

Views of the Salish Sea -Howard Macdonald Stewart Harbour Publishing

Watershed Moments -A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District – available at Courtenay and District Museum or through Harbour Publishing

West Coast Fossils: A Guide to the Ancient Life of Vancouver Island -Rolf Ludvigsen, Graham Beard. Available at Courtenay and District Museum or Amazon

The Life and Time of Joseph McPhee -Ian Kennedy, available at museum gift shop

The Wilderness Profound: Victorian Life on the Gulf of Georgia -Richard Somerset Mackie, available at museum gift shop

Cumberland Museum and Archives

Cumberland Collieries Railway Vancouver Island BC 1888-1960 -Patrick O. Hind. Available at the Cumberland Museum and Archives

Cumberland Heritage: A Selected History of People, Buildings, Institutions and Sites 1888-1950 -Jennifer Nell Barr

Denman Island Museum

My Ain Folk Revisited: Denman Island 1875-2000 -J.P. Kirk

A History of Horses on Denman Island -Jacqueline Ward

HMCS ALBERNI Museum and Memorial

WAR BRIDES: One Way Passage -Bev Tosh

An Historic 2017 Thank You!

The Courtenay and District Museum staff are marking the 2017 holiday season by thanking the many supporters who help to keep the museum ticking throughout the year. They include: City of Courtenay, Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia Arts Council, Service Canada, BC Gaming Commission, Comox Valley Community Foundation and the visitors, members, donors, volunteers and colleagues who provide support on many levels.

Also, a big thank you to local history authors who continue to research and write books that inform the work we do daily. A recent example, authors, John Falk and Terrance James delivered a late November presentation to a full house at the museum. Their research and writing is a significant boost to public awareness of Black Creek Mennonite settlement history. Many thanks to them and to numerous other generous authors who continue to share their knowledge. If you’re looking for a unique and excellent holiday gift for those near or far, here are some title suggestions you might consider from us and our museum colleagues in the Comox Valley. All the best for the holidays!