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BCHF Conference The BC Historical Federation Conference starts Friday, June 6, 2019.
There are a multitude of field trips, presentations and tours to choose from that are open to everyone.
Click for Details
The British Columbia Historical Federation encourages interest in the history of British Columbia through research, presentation, and support.
Lecture: Riding the Continent
Time and Date: 7 pm, Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Riding the Continent is Hamilton Mack Laing's previously unpublished memoir about his 1915 transcontinental motorcycle trip. Laing's story explores the beauty of North America's bird life and describes the sights, scenery and people he encountered.
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Lecture: Food for Dinosaurs, Food for Thought
Time and Date: 1 to 4pm, Saturday, June 15, 2019
Admission by donation
A trio of paleobotanists from the University of Oregon will be on hand to discuss various fossil plants found on Vancouver Island.
You don't have to be a botanist yourself to enjoy the wonderful world of plants!
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Exhibit: Gold Mountain Dream!
Be sure to visit our second floor gallery to take in this travelling exhibit from the Royal British Columbia Museum and Archives.
Click here to learn more
Ready for Summer!
Capes Escape, the museum's vacation rental property, is ready for summer guests.
The 1700 sq. ft., 1930s heritage home is part of the Courtenay and District Museum visitor services.
The Capes home, situated on seven acres of forested land on Cumberland Road, was donated to the museum by the late Katherine Capes. Located approximately 4 km from Highway 19, Capes Escape is only minutes from downtown Courtenay and Cumberland.
If you've got company coming for a visit and are looking for a comfortable and convenient rental space, consider Capes Escape.
Click here for more information
Canada Day Open House
Join us Monday, July 1st from 12 noon to 4 pm for exciting and fun festivities!
The museum will be hosting an open house welcoming people of all ages to help celebrate our magnificent country's birthday.
It's All There in Black and White
The Courtenay & District Memorial Outdoor Pool officially opened on July 1st 70 years ago. Once the solemn dedication ceremony was completed, there was time for some shenanigans as reported in this Comox District Free Press article from July 7, 1949.
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With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
Merville - 100 Years and Counting
Merville was home to the Stardust Drive-In Theatre from 1967 to about 1985.
It opened Thursday, September 14, 1967 with a double bill of Fireball 500 and Muscle Beach Party - both starred Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. As an added attraction, Muscle Beach Party featured the film debut of "Little Stevie" Wonder.
A press release described the theatre as having a 34' x 80' screen and the capacity to accommodate 440 cars. It was part of E.W. Bickle Ltd. which, at that time, also operated two indoor theatres, the Van Isle in Campbell River and the E.W. in Courtenay.
Exact date of closure for the Stardust is elusive - no advertisements appeared in the Comox District Free Press for 1986 whereas previous years featured weekly ads in the summer months.
Click here for the (incomplete) Stardust sign and location information
Summer Hours
Open Seven Days a Week
The Courtenay and District Museum is now on its summer operating schedule and is open Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 5:00 and Sundays from 12:00 to 4:00 until Labour Day. As always, members visit free.
Photo of the Month
CDM #988.203.9
You can view more photos like this on our website. Click here to visit our holdings.
Watershed Moments
Here is the latest newsletter installment of an image from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District.
Photo credit: Navy personnel at Goose Spit, 1940s. George Hobson is second from left in the front row. CDM 999.140.1 Page 187.
Photo caption: "...an article from the Comox Argus of April 20, 1944, titled "Camp Followers in Courtenay," described a report by Sergeant Hatcher of the Provincial Police to Courtenay city council about camp followers, wild women and sharks - civilians who travelled around to exploit military personnel - who were showing up in town." Page 176.
Click Here for a Larger Version
Periodical Wisdom
Furrows, crow's feet, wrinkles, creases or lines...whatever you want to call them, this article from the March 1931 McCall's magazine has some suggestions to smooth things over.
All kinds of helpful hints and "how-to" advice can all be found in periodicals from our archival collection.
So turn that frown upside down and click here to read more
Your Membership and Donations Make A Difference
Purchasing a membership to the Courtenay and District Museum, now in its 58th year, supports heritage preservation in the Comox Valley through special events, lectures, education programmes, research and exhibitions. Your membership benefits these award winning programmes on a year round basis and we appreciate it!
Becoming a member provides you with discounts in the gift shop and on lectures and an opportunity to support one of the most active regional museums in British Columbia. Thank you for your support.
Click here to Join
Click Here to Make a Donation
Museum Funding
The Courtenay and District Historical Society was registered as a nonprofit society in 1961 to preserve and interpret cultural and natural heritage of the Comox Valley. It has functioned as an independent society since that time. Funds are derived from the generous support of the City of Courtenay, British Columbia Arts Council, Comox Valley Regional District, British Columbia Gaming Branch, and from museum generated revenues and donations.
Proud sponsors of the Courtenay & District Museum:
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