Latest News
July 2021 Gift Shop News
The gift shop has a large array of eco friendly enamel mugs, bamboo travel cups and water bottles. All are great to take on a trip to the beach, camping or just hanging out in the yard. The very popular enamel mugs pictured above are made by Thornback and Peel, a company known for quality products. These unbreakable mugs feature fun designs and retail for $11.95 each.
Dinosaur – work in progress
MUDE 4 by Alfredo De Stefano June 26 – September 4, 2021 artist: Alfredo De Stefano, Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico “Dinosaur gives museological photography archives new readings, with interventions in the desert using real fossils or other materials from popular culture about dinosaurs.” Photographs by Alfredo De Stefano appear as a slideshow installation on a monitor in the museum’s dinosaur skeleton display area. This offsite installation is a collaborative presentation between the Courtenay and District Museum and the Comox Valley Art Gallery as part of the convergent program Offsite_Onsite that included a research and production residency prior to the current exhibition: Under One Sky (26 June [...]
Virtually-Dinosaur-Age Discoveries!
13th BC Paleontological Symposium July 9-12 If you're interested in dinosaur-age discoveries and hearing from the people who deal with them on the daily, go no further than your living room to participate in the BC Paleontological Alliance’s 13th Symposium hosted by the Vancouver Paleontological Society July 9-12. Keynote Speakers are Victoria Arbour, Royal BC Museum and Karma Nanglu, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. A roster of speakers from Canada and the U.S. follows on July 9 and 10. Field trips happen on the 11th and 12th. Click for Details
Museum at Campbell River Exhibit
Heading up island this summer? Don't forget to visit our neighbours at the Museum at Campbell River to see the “Sacred Journeys” exhibition. This temporary exhibit is on now until November 2021. Click for Details
June 2021 Gift Shop News
Looking for useful yet unusual items? Check out what we’ve got in store. String tins keep balls of twine from getting away from you! The shop carries three attractive designs to choose from and each retails for $11.95. "Loonie Pigs" offer an eye-catching way to round up your spare change. At only $5.95 they are a fun way to save. Unlike regular ceramic piggy banks, these metal pigs are easy to open and reuse.
It’s All There in Black and White: The Repeal of Prohibition in the Comox Valley
BC's provincially legislated prohibition lasted from October 1, 1917 to June 15, 1921. That means this month marks 100 years since its repeal and the start of retail sale at government liquor stores. Well…not quite 100 years of local retail as you will see in this article in the Cumberland Islander from June 18, 1921. Prohibition on alcohol was difficult to enforce. Legally, liquor remained available for medical, sacramental and mechanical purposes. The truly determined could purchase a prescription from an amenable doctor or buy from bootleggers. During the prohibition years, “Near-beer”, which had a low-alcohol content of 2.5% or less, could be bought [...]
History and More
While museums are a valuable resource for protecting an area's history and sharing its stories, the economic benefits of museums are often ignored. Museums can be an important economic driver. Canada has over 2,600 museums which employ more than 32,000 people and over 103,000 volunteers. These organizations provide an important hub for connecting community members while attracting local and regional tourists with an interest in learning. Not only do museums stimulate tourism and attract visitors, but they can also drive the restoration and protection of heritage buildings and natural areas, protect the history of marginalized communities who might otherwise be neglected, and bring [...]
June 2021 Stepping into Wilderness
Here now is an image from the museum's newest award-winning book Step into Wilderness – A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley. Photo credit: Forbidden Plateau hikers, June 30, 1947. S.B.W. (Dusty) d’Esterre photograph. Photo: 998.219.221. Page 103.
Remembering the 1946 Earthquake
CDM 972.51.14 This year, June 23 marks the 75th anniversary of Vancouver Island's largest historic earthquake, a magnitude 7.3 event with the epicenter located in the Forbidden Plateau region. The tremors rocked the west coast from Port Rupert, BC to Portland, OR. The shaking demolished 75% of the chimneys in Cumberland, Courtenay and Union Bay, and caused damage to buildings in Comox, Powell River and Port Alberni. Tall buildings in Vancouver swayed back and forth, power was disrupted and a small fire started in the Hotel Vancouver. Lighthouse keepers along the coast recorded damages such as shattered windows and smashed dishes, and [...]
Statutory Closures
The museum will be closed for Canada Day on Thursday, July 1st and BC Day on Monday, August 2nd, 2021. Have safe and happy holidays!
Winners of BC Historical Federation Writing Competition
Recognizing books that make significant contributions to the historical literature of British Columbia The British Columbia Historical Federation (BCHF) announced the winners for the 2020 Lieutenant Governor’s Historical Writing Awards on Saturday, June 5 at the online BCHF 2021 conference. Congratulations to all. 1st prize, $2,500. Chinatown Through a Wide Lens: The Hidden Photographs of Yucho Chow by Catherine Clement (Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia). 2nd prize, $1,500. Step into Wilderness - A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley by Deborah Griffiths, Christine Dickinson, Judy Hagen, Catherine Siba (Harbour Publishing). 3rd prize, $500. A Great Revolutionary [...]
Cultural and Heritage Tourism
According to the World Trade Organization, tourism is shifting away from active holidays towards vacations that offer richer, more meaningful experiences, including tourist attractions that offer educational opportunities. Because of this, cultural and heritage tourism is a fast-growing market. "Cultural and heritage tourism" is tourism in which arts, culture and heritage form a key attraction for visitors. The focus of their activities are experiential events, such as local festivals, museums, food and wine tours, and art galleries. Sharing cultural stories and history with tourists and promoting historic places in the community can create a richer experience for both visitors and local residents. According [...]
In Memoriam: Mary Slemin
Chuck and Mary Slemin with their personal doll collection at their home in Courtenay. Photo from the Comox District Free Press Collection, March 4, 1981. The Courtenay and District Historical Society lost a past supporter with the death of Mary Slemin on March 30, 2021. Mary and her husband, Chuck, were integral to the development of the museum for over two decades. In looking back over early documents and press releases, Mary’s name pops up again and again. She was ubiquitous on committees, work bees, and tea services. Mary and Chuck each held several offices with the Historical Society Board over the years. [...]