Summer Fossil Tours
This season is the perfect time to plan an unforgettable outdoor adventure! Be sure to reserve your spot on one of our world-famous fossil tours, led by Natural History Curator, Pat Trask. Running through fall 2026, these guided experiences offer a unique opportunity to explore and uncover the region’s ancient past.
We offer public tours designed for families, along with specialized programming for school classes, adult and youth groups. Whether you're discovering fossils for the first time or returning as an enthusiast, these tours make for a fun, educational outing for all ages. Don’t miss your chance to explore, learn, and step back in time!
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
Looking to buy Canadian? The Museum Gift Shop has you covered this July!
Discover a fabulous collection of magnets, stickers, and greeting cards by Almeida Illustrations (Vancouver), patches, pouches, and enamel pins by Northern Icons (Vancouver), and tea towels by Maison Lorrain (Quebec, designed in Vancouver).
100 Years of Legions
Armistice Day breakfast committee members, possibly 1948: left to right (standing) Arnie Williams, Bob Grey, Howard Nelson, Sandy Strachan, Dick Griffith-Cochrane, Malcolm Carwithen, Fred Tull; kneeling are Bob Nikolaisen and Gordon Wagner. CDM 999.174.16
The Canadian Legion of the British Empire Service League united numerous Veterans groups and societies together as one national entity. Over 160 Legion branches were founded that first year of 1926. This included Courtenay Branch #17 which was followed locally by Cumberland Branch #28 and later by Comox Branch #160 in 1939.
To acknowledge this anniversary as well as commemorate the work of the Royal Canadian Legion in supporting Veterans and community initiatives, celebrations have been planned across Canada. The Courtenay Legion is hosting a gala banquet and dance on Saturday, July 18. The evening is open to the public as well as Legion members.
Continue Reading
From the Archives: Photo of the Month
CDM Sutherland Collection
The Sutherland and Fairbairn girls ready for a swim in the Courtenay River. Left to right: Saxon and Agnes Sutherland, Gwen, Jean, Dorothy and Kay Fairbairn, with Lewis Park in the background, ca. 1920. This photo and its caption appear on pg. 118 and 119 of Step Into Wilderness: A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley.
You can view more photos like this on our website. Click here to visit our holdings.
Become a Museum Member
Courtenay Post Office Building Now and Then
Left side: 2025; right side: CDM 2009.37.2 (cropped) c.1954-1964
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?
- 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!
Not a member yet? Join online today!
BC Day Closure
The museum will be closed on Sunday, August 2 and Monday, August 3. Wishing everyone a safe and happy BC Day holiday.
New Exhibit at Museum at Campbell River
Now until November 8
For those who haven’t seen it already, Q̓ay̓ola: Taking Turns Telling Stories – Indigenous Art in Campbell River is the newest exhibit created by the Museum at Campbell River. This closer look at carvings, poles, and public artworks offers a way to deepen understanding and strengthen connections to the Indigenous art and artists that shape the landscape of Campbell River.
This exhibition is a partnership between the Museum at Campbell River and the We Wai Kai and Wei Wai Kum Nations, in collaboration with the Liǧʷiłdax̌ʷ Research Centre.
Click for Details
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 & District Historical Society began with a regional mandate to create the Courtenay & 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!
