Latest News
Before Television: Baby Bonnet
What Happens When We Turn off the Remote Here's a charming little baby bonnet from the museum's collection. Probably from about 1910-1920, this bonnet is trimmed with angora - both cute and cozy for baby. In the 1909 edition of Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management, Mrs. B. describes the requirements and duties of the nursery governess. Of primary importance, "...love for children and a good temper…clean, neat, and refined in manner and speech goes without saying."... "A knowledge of needlework is also essential. It is not always stipulated that the nursery governess makes the clothing for the children, but it is always understood [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: T-Bar Opens on Plateau
Before Washington there was Becher. This January 20, 1965 article from the Comox District Free Press gives some interesting stats regarding the Mt. Becher T-Bar on its first, unofficial weekend of use. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo. Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image
Member’s Holiday Discount Extended
In the spirit of Christmas we are extending the special 25% discount on all non-consignment items in the gift shop. This will end on December 22nd, 2012! So come in and pick up some Christmas gifts. We have many items perfect for children and grandchildren.
Museum 2012 Holiday Hours
Christmas: December 23, 24, 25, 26 – Closed Regular business hours resume Thursday, December 27. New Years: Closed December 30, 31 January 1 - Closed Regular business hours resume Wednesday, January 2.
Before Television: Goose Feather Christmas Tree
What Happens When We Turn off the Remote Behold an early form of artificial Christmas tree made from goose feathers – that's right...green-dyed goose feathers! These trees were popular in North America from about the 1920s to the 1950s. The little number pictured above belonged to Kay Williams who lived in both Cumberland and Royston. No doubt the tree is a later model as descriptions of early forms mention candle attachments and this one comes with its own electric lights. With the additional embellishment and personal touch of ornaments and tinsel this tree would have been quite a festive knock out!
Raffle 1934-style
CDM 997.277.1 This following Card of Thanks appeared in the December 20, 1934 edition of the Comox Argus announcements: "The Ladies Auxiliary of St. Joseph's Hospital take this opportunity of extending their sincere thanks to Mr. F. Leyland for the beautiful cake he made and decorated for the Christmas raffle, also to Mr. Robertson and all those who helped make the raffle so successful." Sadly, follow-up research did not reveal a winner. But it would have been a very nice prize to win at holiday time. The Master Bakery in Courtenay was selling decorated 5 lbs Christmas cakes for a whopping $2.25 [...]
Native Sons Hall Video
Please join us in watching this video about the historic Native Sons Hall, researched and produced by GNG Communications and the Courtenay Museum team, working with Fox and Bee Media. This is one of eight videos the museum has produced with Fox and Bee Media in 2012 with funds from the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI). It will be a feature of the museum’s ongoing education programming. We hope you enjoy it!
Heureux Noël and Merry Christmas!
CDM 974.63.13 / c. 1909 French postcard. The board and staff of the Courtenay and District Museum wish you all the very best for the Holiday Season!
RBCM Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibit
The wildly popular Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition from the Natural History Museum, London and BBC Worldwide returns to the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria with 100 winning images from the 2012 global competition in huge, backlit displays. Photographers from Estonia to Taiwan are among the winning entrants, but the overall winner this year – Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012– is Paul Nicklen from Nanoose Bay, Vancouver Island. His “Bubble-jetting emperors” underwater image of a sunlit mass of Emperor penguins was voted the most striking and memorable of all 48,000 international entries. The exhibition features 100 photographs from 98 countries in [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: Gifts Rare and Beautiful
Oh, to find that perfect gift! This December 15, 1931 Comox District Free Press ad for the Courtenay Tarbell's Store has some suggestions – check out how many still hold true 81 years later. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo. Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image
St. Joseph’s Hospital Centennial 2013
By Mary Lee, Centennial Coordinator The summer of 2013 will mark the 100 year anniversary of St. Joseph’s General Hospital. It was on July 5th 1913 that the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto arrived in Comox to establish a hospital on an appeal from the Comox Logging Company. The Sisters opened its doors to patients with a four-bed hospital in a small farmhouse on August 10th of that year. In just a century, the hospital has evolved significantly, growing in size and capability to meet the health care needs of the Comox Valley and surrounding regions. This is a centennial worth celebrating. Since [...]
So Long…
The museum bids a fond farewell to longtime employee Cynthia Lane. Regulars will know Cynthia from her positions as tour programmer, visitor services and home school instructor. She first came to the museum for a work experience placement from G.P. Vanier Senior Secondary School 15 ½ years ago and has worked with the museum in a number of capacities. Cynthia recently mentioned how she originally thought she wanted to go into Law then came to the museum and realized how much she liked palaeontology; then she started working on kids camps and realized how much she liked teaching. "I've loved being here, love the [...]
Reminder: Sale Event Especially for Members
A reminder that this week is the gift shop sale event especially for members. From November 13 - 17 museum members will receive an additional 5% discount on their regular 15% discount from non-consignment and non-sale items. The shop has been well stocked in anticipation! There is a wide array of books for both children and adults, tea towels, oven mitts, shopping bags, scarves, mugs, water bottles, jade jewellery, prints, t-shirts, hoodies and native carvings. If you are looking for gifts for kids we have a fantastic variety of unusual and very reasonably priced toys. There are fossil and dinosaur excavation kits, t-rex chompers, [...]