Latest News
Women’s History Month 2021: Agnes Deans Cameron
By Christine Dickinson The first school in the Comox Valley opened on Mission Hill in 1871. The first teacher was S. F. Crawford, who divided his time between farming and being a schoolmaster. After 10 years, Crawford moved on to open the school on Denman Island. Crawford’s successor in 1882 was Agnes Deans Cameron, a young woman, who came with good recommendations, high ideals and strong opinions. She had been the first girl to graduate from Victoria High School, and was a fully qualified teacher at 16. At just 18 years old, Aggie Cameron already had two years of teaching behind her at the [...]
March 2021 Stepping into Wilderness
Here now is an image from the museum’s newest book Step into Wilderness – A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley. Photo credit: Jane and Jimmie Paterson with Bob Sutherland at Kye Bay 1920s. Photo: CDM Sutherland Collection. Page 140.
BC Heritage Week, February 15-21, 2021
A message from Heritage BC: Where do you find heritage? Do you find it in the buildings that make your community unique or do you hear it in the special stories your family tells? Perhaps you experience it at cultural festivals and in the taste of many cuisines. Or maybe you find it on your favourite hikes and when you stop to admire scenes of rivers, fields and hills. Or you think of the generations of people who came before you or the newcomers to your community. Look around you and you will find heritage everywhere. #BCHeritageWeek / #MyBCis / #MyCanadais More Information [...]
Scrapbooking 1890s Style
This beautiful Valentine’s Day card is from Minnie Berkeley’s scrapbook which was donated to the archives over 45 years ago. Minnie was 14 years old when she started compiling her book in 1894. She filled the pages with pressed flowers, inspirational messages and fun snippets like cartoons and calling cards. Scrapbooking as a hobby continues today. Museum and archive enthusiasts share an affinity with these memory keeping crafters.
It’s All There in Black and White: Unification of the Canadian Armed Forces in Comox
February 1, 1968 marked the unification of the Canadian Armed Forces. In the Comox Valley, the event was marked in a “special” way as seen in this front page story from the February 7, 1968 Comox District Free Press. Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
World Thinking Day
G.W. (Bill) Stubbs had his Grade 8 students perform a novel task: keep a record of their school days through a kind of “week in review” writing assignment. This amusing story from May 13, 1946 was written by Doreen McQuillan. It’s related to Girl Guides and presented this month in honour of February’s World Thinking Day. ...."Thursday was a big day, for although away from school I saw Lady Baden Powell which I should say was more educational if anything is! Two chartered buses pulled out at ten A.M. with about one hundred Guides and Brownies from all over the district. The bus being [...]
February 2021 Stepping into Wilderness
Here now is an image from the museum’s newest book Step into Wilderness – A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley. Photo credit: Cecil (Cougar) Smith (left) playing with cougar kittens, 1938. Smith was a cougar hunter and made a living by hunting from the bounty offered by the provincial government, which was later rescinded. S.B.W. (Dusty) d’Esterre photograph. Photo: 989.183.77. Page 185.
January 2021 Gift Shop News
The gift shop features items created by talented local artists. New to our inventory is the work of James Wood. James' pieces begin with a base of either agate, amethyst or amazonite; he then creates and attaches mushrooms that appear to be growing out of the stone. Each piece is unique. Prices range from $70 to $400. Make sure to check them out.
Step into Wilderness Contest Winners
Congratulations to Heather and Craig Windley who are the lucky winners of Step into Wilderness books. Heather's name was chosen at random for sharing her favourite Comox Valley spot or outdoor pursuit. So, what was Heather's fav? "A walk or boat ride on Comox Lake with Craig Windley."
It’s All There in Black and White: The Toilet Bowl of Denman and Hornby
A look back 30 years to a gathering of competitors: Denman vs Hornby Island at the "Toilet Bowl". This article from the January 4, 1991 Comox District Free Press provides colour commentary to the football playoff that was held on the first day of every New Year. Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
January 2021 Stepping into Wilderness
Here now is an image from the museum’s newest book Step into Wilderness – A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley. Photo credit: Doris Macdonald, Jack Hough, Roy Macdonald, Sheelagh Corfield and Jerry Macdonald on Forbidden Plateau, Christmas 1944. CDM 993.39.12. Page 106.
For a Limited Time: Legacies of the Comox Valley Quilt
This quilt titled “Legacies of the Comox Valley” was crafted by the North Island Quilters for Community Awareness and is a temporary addition to our Dreamland exhibit. It’s a recent donation to the museum and when we saw how beautiful it was we just couldn’t resist adding it to the display! The quilt was made in 2005 and was raffled to support the work of the Comox Valley Land Trust. It was donated to us by the estate of Terri Odeneal. Many thanks to Terri’s family and friends for this donation that allows us to share the quilt with the community. “Legacies of the [...]
December 2020 Watershed Moments
Here is the latest newsletter installment of an image from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments – A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Photo credit: The Stewart Block building stands at the southwest corner of Duncan Avenue and 5th Street in Courtenay. At the time this photo was taken in 1932 it housed the Olympic Billiard Parlor and Barber Shop. Left to right: Unknown, Charles Rennicker (?), Cyril Newman. Charles Sillence photograph. Photo: CDM Sillence Collection. Page 146.