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Lecture: Seagoing Women
Event type: In-person
In honour of Women’s History Month, the museum lecture series presents Seagoing Women.
Sara Donnelly will speak about her new book celebrating women whose work lives have been shaped by their connection to the sea.
Read More
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
On September 30 each year, Canada commemorates the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools, and their families and communities.
Click here for more information from Canadian Heritage, and click here to find out more about Truth and Reconciliation Week 2026. The museum will be closed Wednesday, September 30 in recognition.
In Memoriam: Judy Hagen
The Courtenay and District Museum Society lost a long-time leader and friend with the passing of Author, Researcher, Judy Hagen on July 24, 2026.
Since the 1980s, Judy had served the community and museum society through her writing, research, and leadership. Feisty and spirited, a pistol in the best way, Judy was also the calm in the eye of political winds she experienced in her life with her late husband, the Honourable Stanley B. Hagen.
For Judy, when working with the museum, no matter what the challenge, there was always a silver lining. Forward thinking, Judy was a main driver of the museum society’s purchase of the 1925 Post Office building for museum expansion in 2000 and for the Provincial Heritage Site designation of the Puntledge elasmosaur under the Heritage Conservation Act in 1989.
Judy’s obituary can be found here.
Fall Fossil Tours
Reserve your spot for a day of discovery! Explore the region’s ancient past on one of our world-famous fossil tours, led by Natural History Curator, Pat Trask, running now through October 2026. There's a tour for everyone: public tours for individuals and families, plus programs built for school classes and 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! And if you’re planning, consider booking for spring 2027!
For more information and to book your tour, please call (250) 334–0686 ext. 2 or send an email to info@courtenaymuseum.ca.
New Elasmosaur Shirts in the Gift Shop
The Museum Gift Shop is pleased to announce these brand new elasmosaur t-shirts. We once again teamed up with our long-time collaborators at Hitec Screen Printing to locally print these fabulous shirts, available in black and merlot red in adult ($35.99) and youth ($25.99) sizes.
They’re already selling fast, so pick up your size of choice and show your pride for this famous fossil.
Reminder: New Acquisitions
Hurry, the clock is ticking! The last day to see this in-house exhibit will be Saturday, September 19, so be sure to come in and check it out before it’s gone.
Click Here for Details
The upcoming exhibit will highlight regional postal history through photos, correspondence, and ephemera. More details to come in next month’s newsletter, with a planned mid-October opening.
Upcoming Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Courtenay & District Historical Society will take place on Wednesday, October 7 at 4:00 PM in the museum’s Rotary Gallery.
From the Archives: Photo of the Month
Back to school! This photo and description appear on page 107 of the book "For Our Children”: A History of Comox Valley Schools, 1870-1980.
Nikrap School was built in 1910 along Burns Road in Dove Creek to serve the families of Comox Logging, Camp 7. After loggers relocated from Camp 7 to Headquarters, the school was left abandoned until soldier settlers arrived in 1918-1919 and the school was reopened in 1921. The school met its untimely demise following a Christmas party on December 23, 1923, after which it burned to the ground.
You can view more photos like this on our website. Click here to visit our holdings.
Become a Museum Member
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?
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!
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!
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