Latest News
100th Anniversary of the Cumberland No. 4 Mine Explosion
CDM D-295 "An unfortunate accident occurred in twenty East level, No. 2 slope, of the No. 4 Comox mine, of the Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Limited. On Wednesday afternoon, by a slight explosion of gas." September 2, 1922 issue of The Cumberland Islander
August Summer Fossil Tours
As we near the end of August, bookings are nearly full for our public and private fossil tours. For more information and to book your tour, please call (250) 334 – 0686 ext. 2 or send an email to info@courtenaymuseum.ca.
New Exhibit: Inspired by Nature
Inspired by Nature features 11 beautiful textiles from the museum textile collection which reflects a diversity of locations, cultural backgrounds, techniques and designs. Staff chose the artifacts on display in the second-floor changing gallery for their diverse origins from donors and for nature-inspired designs and elements.
Tealight Lantern Kids Craft
Come join us on Saturday, August 20th from 10:30am - 12:00pm for a museum craft activity ideal for children ages 7-12 years old (accompanied by an adult). Kids will create a glow in the dark lantern using a mason jar and cut out silhouettes, with the choice of making an elasmosaur or flower fairy design. All supplies will be provided, while quantities last.
Screen Printing by Wachiay Studio
Learn about the exciting basics of screenprinting and take the opportunity to try it out when the Wachiay Studio team will be at the museum to screen print on Saturday August 6, from 11:00am to 12:30pm. Bring your own white fabric or white t-shirt and try your hand at screen printing. They’ll have patches available as well. All are welcome. Children accompanied by parent.
British Columbia Day Closure
The museum will be closed on Monday, August 1st. Wishing everyone a safe and happy BC Day holiday!
It’s All There in Black and White: 1935 Dominion Day in the Comox Valley
To celebrate this past Canada Day, as we begin to reintroduce gatherings into our life, we’re taking a look back at how the Comox Valley celebrated the holiday in this July 4, 1935 article from the Comox District Free Press. Known then as Dominion Day, the event at Saratoga Beach featured several competitions and games, gathering well over 2000 people from the Comox Valley district. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
100th Anniversary of the Merville Fire
Photo of Lewis Park tents that housed burnt out Merville settlers This month marks the 100th anniversary of the Merville fire. This unique photo illustrates the emergency shelter accommodations set up in Lewis Park. Ian Clapperton, the grandson of Merville settlers Oliver and Elsie Linton, came from the U.K. to share history and photos from his family collection with our archives. We look to Land of Plenty for a concise wrap-up of the disaster. “The Merville Fire of July 6, 1922, fanned by a north-east wind moved south from the Oyster River through standing timber “crowning” in great bursts of flame. It hit [...]
Cooling Off at Williams Beach
See more historical images and stories like this in the museum’s 2020 book Stepping Into Wilderness published with Harbour Publishing. CDM Brown Collection Many logging families spent summers at the beach. After a series of fires that had threatened and sometimes destroyed homes, the Comox Logging and Railway Company purchased property at Williams Beach and built a row of cabins for the use of employees’ families. Photo: CDM Brown Collection
Collection Selections July 2022
CDM 977.6.4 For this edition of Collection Selections, we’re taking a look at this early 1900s Pearson’s Nailer, a predecessor to the modern nail gun. To use it: simply fill the upper canister with nails, shake and tap it until they’ve fallen into their respective slots, and strike the punch rod to drive consecutive nails below. The beauty in this design lies in several details such as the elegant fibonacci-curled springs, a simple mechanism to allow one nail at a time to pass into the chamber with each strike, as well as the converging nail channels mimicking a tributary to minimise jamming. [...]
Vaux’s Swift 2022 Highlights
Swifts on Oak-Beeville Texas 2013. Photo by: Jason Collins The Vaux’s Swifts made their appearance again this year, the fifth year in a row. We're excited that this year there was a record number with one evening in late May of 8,500 birds. The museum installed a live camera on the roof and ran the live stream of visits on YouTube. Courtenay is the most northern recorded stop in civilization as they move north.
Collection Selections June 2022
CDM 2013.107.2 For this edition of Collection Selections, we’re celebrating The Queen’s platinum jubilee by taking a look at this Queen Coronation doll made by Betsy Howard in the 1950s. Betsy lived in Merville with her husband John (the namesakes of Howard Road), then Comox and finally Nanoose. Betsy became known internationally for her hand-crafted dolls before her untimely death in 1956. This doll was donated with a collection of 7 others, all made by Betsy Howard, in 2013.
We’re Hiring
Thanks to Canada Summer Jobs 2022, the museum has three opportunities for summer students this year. One position is filled, and the two remaining positions are: Collections Assistant and Natural History Assistant. If you, or someone you know is interested, please send your resume to info@courtenaymuseum.ca.