Latest News
New Exhibit at the Cumberland Museum
A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia is an opportunity to consider the contributions that Chinese migrants and their descendants have made to British Columbia, a province built from the interaction of successive and concurrent waves of migration and uninterrupted occupation by Indigenous peoples. Learn more about the exhibit on the Cumberland Museum website.
June 2023 Gift Shop News
There are lots of new and exciting products coming to the museum gift shop this month, so be sure to check out the new arrivals before they’re sold out!
Love Is in the Air
Did you know that the month of June is named after the Roman goddess Juno? Juno was the Roman counterpart to the Greek goddess Hera, who was believed to be connected with women, marriage, and family. Because of this connection, in ancient times, it was believed that getting married in June was lucky, and it would increase the likelihood of a long and happy union. And if you’re looking for some inspiration, our exhibit Dressed for the Occasion, on display in our upstairs gallery, will guide you through wedding dress styles throughout the late-19th to the 20th century.
Celebrate this Summer
Along with improved weather, June warms us all up with a month full of recognition and connections to diverse communities across Canada. Here is a selection of what people are doing to honour Canada’s diversity.
Canada Day Open House
Explore our country’s rich history this Canada Day by stopping by the museum’s open house from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. People of all ages are invited to celebrate the day with music from Alan Jossul and kids crafts provided by museum staff. Jossul is a local, nationally known, solo and ensemble guitarist. As an educator, he specializes in teaching students of all ages and levels to play and enjoy string fretted instruments.
Summer Fossil Tours
Come join a world famous fossil tour this summer, available now for the remainder of the summer and fall season. These tour options are the perfect outing for all ages, newcomers and returning enthusiasts. For more information and to book your tour, please call (250) 334 - 0686 ext. 2 or send an email to info@courtenaymuseum.ca. Click for More Details
We’re Hiring Summer Students!
Is someone you know looking for work experience this summer? Thanks to Canada Summer Jobs 2023, the museum has two positions available for summer students: Collections Assistant and Natural History Assistant. If you, or someone you know is interested, please send your resume to info@courtenaymuseum.ca or drop off a hard copy at the front desk. Assistant Registrar The Corporate Assistant is an 8-Week summer position for a post-secondary student. Applicable fields of study for this position are: Administration and Business Studies, Tourism and Nonprofit business studies, history and communications. This position entails assisting staff with the organization of society files, records, [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: Royston Imperial Pavilion
What began as outdoor tennis courts on the Royston waterfront 100 years ago became a covered structure that hosted dances, concerts, political rallies, and sporting events. The building, which would come to be known as the Royston Imperial Pavilion, hosted its opening dance on June 27th as seen in this article and advertisement from the Cumberland Islander of 1923. In July 1940, as the band was setting up, a short in the wiring caused a fire that swept through the building, engulfing it completely in ten minutes. Paper decorations and greenery fuelled the blaze. There were no casualties, but the wonderful dance floor was [...]
Scouts and Guides in the Comox Valley
The winning First Aid Team at a Vancouver Island Mine Safety Association event, 1928. Left to right: Gladys Idiens, Lynn Hilton (captain), Ritsuko Uchiyama, Margaret Dunn and Dot Waterfield. Photo: 990.16.40 Camping and hiking have always been central activities for the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements. Both originated in Great Britain and became popular locally during World War I. Early Guide groups camped at Comox Lake, Hornby Island and Rathtrevor Beach. The campouts gave girls an opportunity to practice their skills in tenting, boating and first aid. Boy Scouts camped at local beach hot spots as well as at Croteau’s Camp [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: Comox Bank Robbery 1983
It’s been 40 years this month since the great Comox bank robbery of May long weekend 1983. Once the dust had settled and the valuables from the safety deposit boxes were taken into account, the theft tallied up to about $370,000 (that’s $1,001,062 in today’s money). Quite a haul! This article is by Debra Martin from the May 25, 1983 front page 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.
Spring Fling and Easter Things
On Saturday, April 1st we’re celebrating spring and Easter in the Comox Valley with tons of activities, prizes, and more at the museum from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. We’re pleased to announce that the Barnyard Party Animals from Black Creek will be joining us, and bringing along a fun petting zoo consisting of ducklings, chicks, rabbits, hedgehogs, goats and even a tortoise. If you’re looking to spruce up your look, Cathy from Magical Faces will have a booth set up for face painting. There will also be kids' crafts for your artistic side, a dinosaur egg hunt with a twist, guessing how [...]
Upcoming Spring Events
Join us for a wide range of spring events coming up in the next few months! We look forward to seeing you at the museum.
The Museum Gift Shop Update
What do local businesses/crafters Royston Roasting, Gypsy Chic, Grumpy Goats Soap, and Ding Ding Dillio Crafts all have in common? They all have fabulous items for sale in the museum gift shop! Here, you’ll also find cards by local artists Sue Pyper, Debbie Bowles, and Andy Everson. We have a variety of t-shirts, stickers and magnets from West Coast Karma. And if you are interested in local history, you might want to have a look at pictorial history books Watershed Moments or Step into Wilderness, published by Harbour Publishing and created by donors, staff and volunteers. All royalties go to the Courtenay Museum. [...]