Latest News
It’s All There in Black and White: Canada’s First Female Governor General
Pop quiz. What trailblazing woman became Canada's first female governor general? Two hints: 1) she served from 1984 to 1990, 2) she visited the Comox Valley 30 years ago this month. Not sure? Check out the coverage of her visit that appeared in the October 14th edition of the Comox District Free Press. Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
Lecture: Views of the Salish Sea
Time and Date: 7 pm, Thursday, November 9, 2017 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Speaker: Howard Macdonald Stewart 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. Stewart presents an illustrated lecture based on his newly released book Views of the Salish Sea, One Hundred and Fifty Years of Change around the Strait of Georgia. Click for Details
October 2017 Gift Shop News
Hard to believe, but some folks have already begun their Christmas shopping! If you want to stay ahead of the curve, come see what's in store that is both unique and locally made. Joy Hills Island Designs creates rustic Vancouver Island-themed laser cut wood necklaces reasonably priced at $20.00 each. The very inventive local artist James Wood has fashioned a variety of pieces that include T-Rex teeth, glow in the dark ammonites, rocks with life-like star fish and shark teeth necklaces. Or check out the offerings from the Royston-based Giggling Gertie & Co. which produces things like lavender sachets for only $6.95 or bright [...]
October 2017 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: The Comox District Women's Institute making Red Cross Jam, 1941. Third from left is Mrs. Margaret McPhee, fourth from left is G.W. (Bill) Stubbs and third from right is Theed Pearse. Charles Sillence photograph. CDM Stubbs Collection. Page 183. Photo caption: "In 1941, the Red Cross, the Women's Institute (WI) and the Comox Valley Co-operative Producers joined forces with the people of the valley to send jam to Britain. They borrowed a jam kettle from the [...]
Lecture: The Nootka Sound Crisis
Location of the Spanish Fort Time and Date: 7 pm, Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Speaker: Catherine Gilbert 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. There is still time to get tickets for Catherine Gilbert's repeat performance of her sold out lecture about this fascinating aspect of early Vancouver Island history. Click for Details
September 2017 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: Courtenay Elementary School class brandishing sports equipment, ca.1906. Walter Gage photograph. CDM 983.55.1 Photo caption: Photo caption: "T.J. Barron, a graduate of McGill University, taught at the Courtenay school from 1905 to 1915. Previous teachers had mostly been young, with little experience, but Mr. Barron was a seasoned and accomplished educator who had high expectations for decorum, academic results and physical activity. Club swinging and wand drills were [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out
"Turn on, tune in, drop out"...at the local pet shop? Well, it was the 1970s! Find out more in this article from the September 2, 1977 edition of the Comox District Free Press.
September 2017 Gift Shop News
WOW - it has been quite the summer in the gift shop. The store expansion and accompanying increase in stock have made it the best season ever revenue-wise. A top seller from a new line of merchandise we are carrying are the Rolly Pets. They are the cutest stuffed toys - each has a sweet smile and lovely rosy cheeks. We carry owls, rabbits, bees, ladybirds and seals. Children are drawn to the owls and seals while the adults seem to especially like bees and bunnies. All are reasonably priced at just $9.95 plus tax. Children's sock sales have gone wild this summer! Hatley [...]
“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.
Lecture: The Nootka Sound Crisis
Location of the Spanish Fort Time and Date: 7 pm, Tuesday, October 17, 2017 Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum Speaker: Catherine Gilbert 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. Don't miss out! Get your tickets early for Catherine Gilbert's repeat performance of her sold out lecture about this fascinating aspect of early Vancouver Island history. Click for Details
AGM Coming Up
The Annual General Meeting of the Courtenay and District Historical Society will take place at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, September 20th in the museum Rotary Gallery.
RBCM Exhibit on Family
If you're heading to our provincial capital, don't forget to take in the new exhibit at the Royal British Columbia Museum "Family: Bonds and Belonging, It's NOT All Relative" on display until October 31st. The exhibit was created in-house by RBCM staff and displays some seldom seen artifacts. Click Here for Details
August 2017 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: Courtenay's 5th Street lined with cars. CDM 989.69.34 Page 151 Photo caption: "...due to an economic boom in the mid- to late 1920s, automobile sales increased, which meant there were more drivers on the road. Businesses developed to service four-wheeled travellers and holiday makers. By the late 1940s, Courtenay directories listed five auto courts (or auto camps), which clustered around the main routes. In Courtenay, that meant along Cliffe Avenue and near the 5th Street Bridge." [...]