Latest News
October 2018 Watershed Moments
Here is the latest newsletter installment of an image and quote from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Photo credit: Comox Landing, ca. 1910, with the HMS Egeria and the HMS Algerine visible in the harbour. Walter Gage photograph. Photo: CDM 979.3.3. Pages 48-49. Photo caption: "Before, and after, construction of the Comox Wharf in 1874, Comox was the main transportation link to points north and south. Comox Landing, with its gentle slope sheltered by Goose Spit and expansive view of the Beaufort Range and Baynes Sound, made it a perfect gathering place." Page 53.
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 [...]
Periodical Wisdom: September 2018
We've scoured the archives for women's magazines and periodicals to share some advice from the good old days. So now that you've completed your back to school shopping you might want to arrange a children's tea party. This write-up from The Lady of December 8, 1938 gives some wonderful foodie tips for a Downton Abbey style bash perfect for the little ones. Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image
School Days
Did you know that the Courtenay Museum offers a range of education programmes for groups of children? Check out the possibilities.
Lecture: Mudflat Dreaming
Time and Date: 7 pm, Thursday, October 11, 2018 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Speaker: Jean Walton Tickets: $5 for Historical Society members; $6 for general public (plus GST). Advance tickets recommended. Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling 250-334-0686 ext 5. Jean Walton's newly released Mudflat Dreaming tells the story of two communities on Vancouver's waterfront fringes in the 1970s - Bridgeview and Maplewood. Read More
Roman Catholic Church of the Canadian Martyrs Dedication
The original dedication gathering of the Roman Catholic Church of the Canadian Martyrs in Courtenay, BC on September 25, 1938. Seen in the crowd on the right hand side of the photo are Courtenay Mayor M.S. Stephens and Aldermen Theed Pearse and Perry Hanson. Photo from Stubbs Collection, Courtenay and District Museum.
It’s All There in Black and White: Old Church Theatre 80th Birthday
September marks the 80th birthday of the building known today as the Old Church Theatre on Harmston Avenue in Courtenay. It was originally the Roman Catholic Church of the Canadian Martyrs and its official dedication made front page news in the Comox District Free Press of September 29, 1938. Bonus! Click here for a photograph of the original dedication gathering September 25, 1938. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
“Winter” Hours
The museum is now operating on our winter hours schedule. Please note that we are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.
September 2018 Watershed Moments
Here is the latest newsletter installment of an image and quote from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Photo credit: Threshing on the Duncan farm at Sandwick, ca. 1895. Photo: CDM Stubbs Collection. Page 57. Photo caption: "...Farmers settling on both the lower and upper prairies were eager to bring their produce and manufactured goods to market. The most efficient way to handle Courtenay's freight was to barge milled lumber, agricultural products, grains and household goods to and from the head of navigation on the Courtenay River, immediately downstream from the Courtenay River Bridge..." Page 56.
Book Launch: Dancing in Gumboots
Time and Date: 1-4 pm, Saturday, September 29, 2018 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Free event; suitable for all ages. Join us to celebrate the launch of Dancing in Gumboots: the sequel anthology to the extraordinarily successful Gumboot Girls. Fascinated by the stories of women who travelled to the Comox Valley in the 1970s, Lou Allison and Jane Wilde return to their dynamic partnership to bring us an anthology that shines a light on these trailblazing women and their unique stories. Expect a drop-in, casual event with refreshments, music and a chance to mingle with many of the contributing authors. [...]
Potlatch 67-67: The Potlatch Ban – Then and Now
On now at Comox Valley Art Gallery Potlatch 67-67: The Potlatch Ban - Then and Now examines the impact of the attempted cultural genocide through the potlatch ban and the resilience of Indigenous people in maintaining and reclaiming traditional cultural practices and in creating new forms of cultural expression. 2018 marks the 67th year since the Canadian government's Potlatch Ban was lifted, after it was imposed on Indigenous people for 67 years. Nagezdi, Rob Everson Hereditary Chief of the Gigalgam Walas Kwaguł, recognized that many Canadians do not understand the history of Indigenous peoples. He envisioned an Indigenous art exhibition and cultural program that [...]
2018 AGM Coming Up
The Annual General Meeting of the Courtenay and District Historical Society will take place at 6:00 pm on Wednesday, September 19th in the museum Rotary Gallery. New members welcome!
August 2018 Watershed Moments
Here is the latest newsletter installment of an image and quote from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image Photo credit: Cousins Edith Bates (in back), Reg Biscoe, George Bates and Marjorie Biscoe with Bingo at Seal Bay, ca. 1926. The Bates family had a beach cottage at Seal Bay, not too far from the Biscoes' summer home at Kye Bay. Like other Comox Valley children they enjoyed an idyllic existence in the outdoors, with unspoiled beaches close by. Photo: CDM 988.197.133. Photo caption: "Seal Bay Park, a treasure [...]