Courtenay & District Museum




The Courtenay and District Museum welcomes and invites all visitors to enjoy memorable experiences and to discover the Comox Valley’s natural and cultural history.






Lecture: Exploring Spain’s Legacy in the Salish Sea
Fall Fossil Tours
Gift Shop News
Lecture: Out of the Darkness: Bats of the Comox Valley
Remembrance Day Exhibit
Women’s History Month
Next Month: Elasmosaur’s Birthday Party
From the Archives: Photo of the Month
Become a Museum Member
Follow the Courtenay Museum on Instagram!
We Want Your Feedback
Museum Funding






Phone:
250-334-0686

Email:
info@courtenaymuseum.ca

Website:
www.courtenaymuseum.ca

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





Tuesday – Saturday
10:00 am to 4:00 pm





President
John Wilson

Vice President
Daryl Wright

Past President
April Shopland

Rick Ross
Jim Haggart
Ross Dingwall
Christine Dickinson

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

K'ómoks First Nation

Strathcona Wilderness Institute

Project Watershed

Sid Williams Theatre

Comox Valley Art Gallery

Comox Valley Arts

Comox Valley Exhibition




We respectfully acknowledge that the museum provides services within the traditional territory of K'ómoks First Nation.

We respect the diversity of cultures, stories and experiences that form the richness of our regional heritage.




 

Lecture: Exploring Spain’s Legacy in the Salish Sea
Tuesday, October 7 @ 7:00 PM


Santa Saturnina in Boundary Pass by Gordon Miller

Event type: In-person
Time: The lecture starts at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:30 PM.
Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum
Speaker: Local popular historian Kim Davies
Tickets: $5 for Historical Society members; $6 for general public. Advance tickets recommended. Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling 250-334-0686 ext 2.

This evening presentation will feature a short discussion illustrated by the work of three well-known maritime artists. It will also showcase an exquisite new model of the Spanish schooner Santa Saturnina, produced by Comox master model builder Bruce Ellis.

Speaker Kim Davies has a passion for history and since retiring he has been able to pursue Pacific Northwest coastal history full time and meet with historians and artists on various maritime history projects.

Click for More Details


 

Fall Fossil Tours


Have you been down to the river this year? Don’t miss this chance to book your spot on a world-famous fossil tour guided by our Natural History Curator, Pat Trask. Tours will run throughout the fall with school programming available for classes and youth groups, as well as public tours for families. These tour options are the perfect outing for all ages, newcomers and returning enthusiasts.

Click for More Details

For more information and to book your tour, please call (250) 334–0686 ext. 2 or send an email to info@courtenaymuseum.ca.


 

Gift Shop News


Have you been looking for a different kind of humour in your cards? Look no further than the Museum Gift Shop this fall! You’ll find an array of vintage style greeting cards and magnets with a quirky twist, made by Vancouver-based Raven’s Rest Studio.


 

Lecture: Out of the Darkness: Bats of the Comox Valley
Saturday, October 25 @ 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM


Photo: Jared Hobbs

Event type: In-person
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Rotary Gallery in the Courtenay and District Museum
Speaker: Tim Ennis, Coordinator, North Island Chapter, BC Community Bat Program
Tickets: Admission by donation. Seating is limited – first come, first served.

Learn about Comox Valley bats at this family-friendly presentation to be followed by a kids’ craft. Come explore the fascinating world of bats with Biologist Tim Ennis, as we celebrate International Bat Week leading up to Halloween.

Click for More Details

And a Word to the Wise... an evening bat lecture geared towards adults is planned for November. Details to come in next month’s newsletter.


 

Remembrance Day Exhibit
Saturday, October 4 - Saturday, November 8, 2025


In commemoration of the family, friends, and loved ones lost in the line of duty, the museum will have a temporary Remembrance Day exhibit in the second floor gallery from October 4 until November 8 this year.

The museum will be closed on Tuesday, November 11.

St. Andrew's Anglican Church will host their annual fall cemetery cleanup on Saturday, November 8 from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM in preparation for Remembrance Day. The cemetery is located behind the church at the corner of N. Island Highway and Dingwall Road. Click Here for more details.


 

Women’s History Month


In 1992, the Government of Canada designated October as Women’s History Month, marking the beginning of an annual celebration of the outstanding achievements of women and girls throughout Canada’s history.

Click Here to read a timeline of women in Canadian history.


 

Next Month: Elasmosaur’s Birthday Party
Saturday, November 15 @ 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM


Save the date! Courtenay’s very own Puntledge River elasmosaur is turning 80,000,037 this November.

Join us at the museum on Saturday, November 15 from 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM for a special birthday party with cake, treats and celebration.


 

From the Archives: Photo of the Month


CDM #990.16.26 Girl Guides, Royston Train Station, 1928

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


 

Become a Museum Member


Congrats to Darrell Tomkins, the winner of August’s Membership Prize Draw

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 become a member?

  • Enjoy exclusive benefits, including:
    • Free admission to the museum
    • A 15% discount on public and private fossil tour bookings
    • A 15% discount on most purchases in the museum Gift Shop
    • Access to our annual Christmas sale at the Gift Shop
    • Discounts on lecture tickets
  • Quick and hassle-free online sign-up or renewal
  • Stay informed about upcoming programs and activities through our newsletter
  • Coming soon: Sign up for events online with your membership account

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 the launch of our new Membership program, the Courtenay and District Museum is holding a members-only giveaway each month from July through December. Everyone who signs up will be automatically entered to win a copy of Step into Wilderness: A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around Comox Valley.

We are excited to announce the winner for the month of August, Darrell Tomkins. 🎉Congratulations, Darrell! 🎉 This special gift is available for pick-up at the museum only, and we’ll contact each month's winner to arrange collection.

Not a member yet? Join online today for your chance to win at the end of August!


 

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’d 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:

The City of Courtenay

The City of Courtenay

BC Arts Councils

Regional District Comox-Strathcona

British Columbia Gaming Commision

United Way British Columbia

Vancouver Foundation

Thank you to the team at ABC Printing & Signs for ongoing fantastic work!