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Gearing Up for Fossil Tours
Summer’s here! Don’t miss your chance to book your spot on a world famous fossil tour guided by our Natural History Curator, Pat Trask. Tours will run from now until the fall, with public tours for families and school programming available for classes and youth groups. These tour options are the perfect outing for all ages, newcomers and returning enthusiasts.
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For more information and to book your tour, please call (250) 334 – 0686 ext. 2 or send an email to info@courtenaymuseum.ca.
Last Chance - Broken Promises, a travelling exhibit from the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre, will be moving on to its next venue soon. The last day to see it here at the Courtenay and District Museum will be Saturday August 16, 2025.
Broken Promises presents stories of Japanese Canadian dispossession in the 1940s and the lasting impacts of the policies aimed at people of Japanese descent living in coastal British Columbia.
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BC Paleontological Symposium
The 15th BC Paleontological Symposium will take place this August 22 to 26 at the Florence Filberg Centre in downtown Courtenay. The Vancouver Island Paleontological Society, a charter member of The British Columbia Paleontological Alliance, is hosting this year with the support of the Courtenay and District Museum.
The keynote speaker will be Kirk Johnson, the Sant Director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Ray Troll, author, paleontological artist, musician and scientific collaborator, will be the guest speaker at the banquet.
The agenda includes presentations, field trips, and a fossil preparation workshop, so Click Here for more event details and Register at Eventbrite.
Gift Shop News
The Museum Gift Shop is happy to announce brand new colours of our popular elasmosaur t-shirts. We teamed up with our long-time collaborators at Hitec Screen Printing to locally print these fabulous shirts, available in heather green or heather navy in adult sizes ($35.99), and turquoise or olive green in youth sizes ($25.99).
They’re already selling fast, so pick up your size of choice and show your pride for the official provincial fossil of BC!
Lecture: The Coast Salish Woolly Dog
Event type: In-person
Due to her sold-out lecture in May, Liz Hammond-Kaarremaa will return to give a repeat performance at the Courtenay and District Museum Rotary Gallery. If you missed the first lecture, this is your chance to attend.
This illustrated presentation will give a brief overview of Mutton’s story (Mutton was the name of the only known woolly dog whose pelt is at the Smithsonian). Genetic research has been combined with Oral History from Elders, weavers and Knowledge Keepers to reveal the Coast Salish Woolly Dogs’ cultural significance.
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New Video: Oyster River Gardens
In the early 1930s, brothers Guy and Darrell Smith began developing land in the Oyster River area as a show garden and seed farm. This story, briefly mentioned in the Courtenay and District Museum’s book Step Into Wilderness, deserved more attention.
Thanks to a generous donation from the talented team at Fox&Bee Studio, a more in-depth look at the history behind the gardens is now available to watch on YouTube.
BC Day Closure
The museum will be closed on Sunday, August 3 and Monday, August 4. Wishing everyone a safe and happy BC Day holiday.
Heritage Sights
The Courtenay and District Museum occupies the 100-year-old former Courtenay Post Office building. The original section was built during 1925, and the structure was doubled in size with an expansion in 1954. In 1995 the building was recognized by the Courtenay Heritage Advisory Commission; in 2000, it was completely revitalized by the Courtenay and District Historical Society and City of Courtenay to create an expanded home for the museum.
The City of Courtenay Heritage Advisory Commission has brought attention to a number of heritage structures and sites. For example, they commemorated the Creech House on 4th Street in 1998.
Membership
Is your membership due for renewal, or are you considering becoming a member?
We’ve made it easier than ever to renew or sign up for a museum membership with our brand-new Membership Program!
Why is getting a membership so great?
As a member, you’ll also be supporting our work in preserving and sharing stories like those found in the museum's award-winning local history book, Watershed Moments, and its follow-up, Step Into Wilderness.
Whether you’re renewing or joining for the first time, this new process is designed to save you time and keep you connected. Don’t miss out—visit our membership page to renew or sign up today and continue enjoying all the perks of being part of our museum community!
To celebrate memberships, from July-December, the museum will provide Step into Wilderness: A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley to the first person to sign up each month. This special gift is available for pick-up at the museum only, and we’ll contact each winner to arrange collection. Don’t wait—join today and be part of something special!
Bob’s Office at Filberg Lodge
Just last month, the Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park debuted a brand new addition to the Filberg Lodge, called Bob’s Office. The objects and photos in this historical room were curated alongside audio to transport visitors back to the time of hand logging in the Comox Valley during the 1920s and 30s.
On June 11, Courtenay Museum staff were among those who were graciously invited to view the unveiling of the room. A huge thank you to the Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park’s board, staff, and volunteers for their generosity and hospitality.
If you would like to see Bob’s Office for yourself, you’re in luck! Guided tours through the Filberg Lodge run on Thursdays from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm, by donation.
Click Here for More Info
Follow the Courtenay Museum on Instagram!
The museum is scheduling lectures and events throughout the year, so follow us on Instagram and stay up to date on all events and news.
Have you visited the museum recently? We would love to see your photos! Post a pic and tag us with #CourtenayMuseum
We Want Your Feedback
If you’ve been to the museum recently, we’re interested in your feedback. Fill out our short survey to explore what people enjoy and where they’re visiting from.
Click here to take the survey
Museum Funding
In 1961, founders of the Courtenay and District Historical Society began with a regional mandate to create the Courtenay and District Museum (CDM) to collect, preserve and interpret natural and cultural heritage of the Comox Valley. Core values encompass integrity, inclusiveness, community service, rigorous research, objective interpretation and public outreach.
Proud sponsors of the Courtenay & District Museum:
Thank you to the team at ABC Printing & Signs for ongoing fantastic work!
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