Latest News
Centennial Exhibition
Join us on Saturday, June 27 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm for the opening of the museum's City of Courtenay Centennial Exhibition which includes historic panels covering Courtenay's last 100 years created by the City of Courtenay Heritage Commission. This is a great chance to celebrate Homecoming Week, to meet and greet and to enjoy light refreshments. We look forward to seeing you!
Road Trip!
Junior Visits Ucluelet Aquarium The fleshed out juvenile elasmosaur that is usually in the museum's lobby took a road trip to Ucluelet this month along with fossils from the collection. If you get a chance this summer, visit the Ucluelet Aquarium-it's a great place to get up close and personal with present day marine life, like the spotted rat fish. The Courtenay Museum holds the first cretaceous rat fish fossil found in western North America so we have a lot in common. Thanks to the staff of the aquarium for hosting us. Junior will return to Courtenay by July! Visit the Aquarium's Website
A Keepsake for 2015
The Comox Valley Echo and the Courtenay Museum have teamed up to produce a Courtenay Centennial keepsake, a 50 page full colour magazine featuring museum and community images and historic stories. Local authors Ian J.M. Kennedy, Rick James, Judy Hagen and Christine Dickinson along with museum staffers Catherine Siba and Deb Griffiths have produced a keepsake magazine, Courtenay 100 Years of History 1915-2015 as a tribute to the Centennial Year. "We say thank you to the Echo who have given generously on this project and done a great job and to the many businesses who have advertised. The proceeds from Courtenay 100 Years of [...]
Gift Shop News
With the weather already feeling like summer, our new children's t-shirts are a real hit. The best sellers glow in the dark! We have two designs that glow: dino skeletons and a velociraptor. Kids also love our fun t-rex and octopus shirts. Adults haven't been forgotten. If you have visitors who are looking for fabulous t-shirts we stock salmon, octopus, hummingbird or sun mask designs. All our t-shirts are made from high quality pre-shrunk cotton. They are a fun gift to give or a treat for yourself.
It’s All There in Black and White: New Water Source for the Pool
A new water source for the CRA swimming pool made the front page of the Comox District Free Press for May 2, 1956. Readers might be surprised to discover the "old" source. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
Courtenay’s Centennial: A New Phone System
Throughout this year, the museum newsletter will be providing glimpses into the back story on the City's Incorporation, history and development. Courtenay’s communication system took a leap forward on May 3, 1941 courtesy of a BC Telephone Company upgrade. “Cranking” the phone to contact the operator became a thing of the past – the operator was signaled simply by lifting the receiver. Once connected with the operator, callers were required to give the new telephone number of who they were calling instead of the name. That meant a new telephone directory and, for Courtenay, a new telephone office on Cliffe Avenue. Comox District Free [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: Sandwick Golf Course
In the Spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of...golf? (Apologies to Alfred, Lord Tennyson). A shake up in our local golfing world was making the news as evidenced in this April 12, 1934 edition of the Comox District Free Press. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
Many Thanks!
Thank you to everyone who came to our "Spring Fling and Easter Things" event on March 28th. It was a huge success with over 650 visitors. Special thanks to the Shamrock Gumboots 4-H Club for bringing all their adorable and well-behaved animals, to the Hot Chocolates Easter bunny for sweet treats and to Gillian from Detailed Face Painting for creating some amazing works of art on delightful little faces. Proceeds from this day are shared between the museum and the Shamrock Gumboots 4-H Club. To the Shamrock Gumboots 4-H Club and staff and volunteers who arranged this special day—we say thank you!
A Keepsake for 2015
The Comox Valley Echo and the Courtenay Museum have teamed up to produce a Courtenay Centennial keepsake, a 50 page full colour magazine featuring museum and community images and historic stories. Local authors Ian J.M. Kennedy, Rick James, Judy Hagen and Christine Dickinson along with museum staffers Catherine Siba and Deb Griffiths have produced a keepsake magazine, Courtenay 100 Years of History 1915-2015 as a tribute to the Centennial Year. "We say thank you to the Echo who have given generously on this project and done a great job and to the many businesses who have advertised. The proceeds from Courtenay 100 Years of [...]
The Unstoppable Gift Shop
The gift shop has a new look courtesy of a gnarly, old apple tree. Come and check out this fun-for-spring centerpiece along with fresh items in stock including a beautiful variety of friendship glass balls and colourful fused glass lighthouse and sailboat wind chimes. Decorative sailboats, nautical photo frames and keepsake boxes make great summer gifts. Local artist, Stephanie Gould, just brought in a new collection of her colourful diffused glass jewelry. And, for the kids, new glow-in-the-dark dinosaur and fossil T-shirts take a gift's fun factor to the max. Don't miss the Cumberland Museum's new book, Cumberland Collieries Railway by Patrick O. Hind [...]
Courtenay’s Centennial: The Condensory Bridge
The April 16, 1914 edition of the Courtenay Review reveals the origin of the name of the Condensory Bridge. “Another Industry for Courtenay…Another industry is about to commence in Courtenay, which will be added to the “Made in Comox” list, viz, The Courtenay Milk Condensory, which will open its doors for business, about the 1st of May. As everybody knows, condensed or canned milk has a large demand in the new districts and among the logging and construction camps… They [the Company]...purchased an acre and a half of ground from Jos. McPhee along the river bank at the end of Mill Street, where they [...]
Fun Fossil Discoveries for Spring Break
Fossil Mould & Cast In these sessions we’ll look at fossils and talk about what they teach us about the past. These interactive classes will include a hands-on look at fossils, a tour through the exhibits and making moulds and casts of fossils to take home. Times: 10 am to 12 pm Days available: Tuesday March 31, Wednesday April 1, Thursday April 2, Tuesday April 7, Wednesday April 8, Thursday April 9, Friday April 10 Cost: $8.00 per youth (ages 6-10) Parents encouraged to participate. Reservations appreciated. Fossil Tours Fossil Tours will be offered in the afternoons on the above dates 1 to 4 [...]
Courtenay, One Hundred Years of History
Centennial Souvenir Booklet We are proud to announce the creation of a special Centennial souvenir booklet in honour of the City of Courtenay’s 100th anniversary. Museum volunteers and staff have worked to produce a nostalgic look back at this place we call home. Articles by guest authors Rick James, Judy Hagen and Ian J.M. Kennedy are also included. The project was made possible by the Publisher and Staff of the Comox Valley Echo. Through the generosity of the Comox Valley Echo, proceeds from the sale of the booklet will support long term programming and research efforts here at the museum. “Courtenay, One Hundred Years [...]