Courtenay & District Museum




  • Culture Doesn't Stop
  • It's All There in Black and White
  • Thank you Wayward Distillery!
  • Gift Shop News
  • Father's Day Gift Ideas
  • Photo of the Month
  • From Our Library
  • Watershed Moments
  • Your Membership and Donations Make A Difference
  • Just For Fun
  • Museum Funding






  • Phone:
    250-334-0686

    Email:
    museum@island.net

    Website:
    www.courtenaymuseum.ca

    Mailing Address:
    207 Fourth Street,
    Courtenay BC,
    V9N 1G7





    We are currently closed due to Covid-19





    President
    John Wilson

    Vice President
    Daryl Wright

    Past President
    April Shopland

    Rick Ross
    Jim Haggart
    Ross Dingwall
    Mary Everson
    Julie Fortin

    Member of...

    British Columbia Museums Association

    Canadian Museums
    Association

    Archives Association of
    British Columbia

    British Columbia Historical Federation





    Comox Museum

    Cumberland Museum

    Comox Air Force Museum

    Filberg Heritage Lodge

    I-Hos Gallery

    HMCS ALBERNI Museum and Memorial

    Nim Nim Interpretive Centre




     


    Culture Doesn't Stop

    Working together, Comox Valley Arts, Courtenay & District Museum, The Sid Williams Theatre and Comox Valley Art Gallery are making a plan in concert with the City of Courtenay to keep cultural activities going.

    Continue Reading


     


    It's All There in Black and White

    A time to join together and give thanks for victory in Europe played out in halls and churches of the Comox Valley 75 years ago this month.

    Find out more in this article from the Comox District Free Press of May 10, 1945.

    Read More

    With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.


     


    Thank you Wayward Distillery!

    Courtenay's Wayward Distillery has donated 2000 litres of its hand sanitizer to the Comox Valley Community Foundation for distribution to not-for-profits and emergency services in the Comox Valley and Campbell River.

    The Courtenay and District Museum is very pleased and grateful to receive three 20 litre pails to promote good hand hygiene for all visitors and staff.

    Read More


     


    Gift Shop News

    Culture doesn't stop and neither does our gift shop.

    We're going to be featuring select items on our Facebook page for your perusal. You can then email us at info@courtenaymuseum.ca or give us a call at 250-334-0686 ext. 1 to purchase. Calls will be accepted Tuesday to Friday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Payment can be made with either Visa or MasterCard. Then, you can make an appointment time for pick up or we can have the items mailed or couriered to you (a shipping fee will apply).


     


    Father's Day Gift Ideas

    Father's Day is coming up on Sunday, June 21st and we have many reasonably priced gifts in the $5 to $35 range. Here's a top 10 list of suggestions for that special Dad.

    1. Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District book
    2. Dinosaur socks
    3. Elasmosaur coffee
    4. Bear/octopus/Vancouver Island t-shirt by West Coast Karma
    5. Ammonite or fern design ceramic mug
    6. Gift certificate for a Fossil Tour
    7. Backroad Map books or waterproof map of Vancouver Island
    8. Water bottle
    9. Bear bells
    10. Elasmosaur chocolate bar (milk or dark)


     


    Photo of the Month

    CDM #p55-145 May Day Celebration, Courtenay, 1923

    You can view more photos like this on our website. Click here to visit our holdings.


     


    CDM 977.13.2

    From Our Library

    Park's Floral Guide for 1905 is a wonderful example of a nursery catalogue from the period. The lack of colour images may feel odd to our 21st century eyes but the booklet is illustrated with original detailed engravings.

    Note that George W. Park is the business owner. A seedsman and florist named "Park" - destiny fulfilled.

    Click for Larger Image


     

    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: Charles and Henrietta Simms relaxing in their picturesque garden, August 1931. Charles Sillence photograph. Photo: CDM Sillence Collection. Page 161.

    Click Here for a Larger Version


     

    Your Membership and Donations Make A Difference

    Purchasing a membership to the Courtenay and District Museum, now in its 59th 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


     


    CDM 997.525.22

    Just For Fun

    An example of a late Victorian trade card from our collection. Trade cards were an early form of collectible advertising. This one is likely from around the 1880s and is promoting the Toronto, Ontario Steele Brothers who were seed growers and importers.

    The two fellows pictured in the ad seem awfully annoyed with that perfectly legitimate beetparrot.

    Click for a Larger Image


     

    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:

    The City of Courtenay

    BC Arts Councils

    Regional District Comox-Strathcona

    British Columbia Gaming Commision