Courtenay & District Museum




  • Holiday Helpers
  • Lecture: In Search of British Columbia
  • Let the Festivities Begin
  • It's All there in Black and White
  • Elasmosaur's 80,000,022 Birthday Party!
  • Museum Sponsors
  • Photo of the Month
  • Museum Funding




  • Phone:
    250-334-0686

    Email:
    museum@island.net

    Website:
    www.courtenaymuseum.ca

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





    Tuesday to Saturday
    10am to 5pm

    Sunday & Monday
    Closed





    President
    John Wilson

    Vice President
    Daryl Wright

    Past President
    April Shopland

    Rick Ross
    Jim Haggart
    Ross Dingwall
    Harry Squire

    Secretary/Treasurer
    Elizabeth Braithwaite

    Member of...

    British Columbia Museums Association

    Canadian Museums
    Association

    Archives Association of
    British Columbia

    Heritage Society of British Columbia




     

    Holiday Helpers


    A reminder that the Courtenay and District Museum Gift Shop Sale Week is coming! Tuesday, November 23rd to Saturday, November 27th museum members will receive an additional 5% discount on their regular 15% discounts from non-consignment and regularly priced items in the shop.

    From dinosaurs to jewelry, fossil bowls to volcanoes, art cards and framed prints – all are available for your holiday shopping at the Museum. We also have scarves, children's and adult's books, t-shirts, sweaters and hats!

    For exceptional and unusual gifts – come and visit us at the Courtenay Museum Gift Shop!


     

    Lecture:
    In Search of British Columbia


    Speaker: Stephen Hume
    When: 7pm, Tuesday, November 23rd
    Where: Rotary Gallery, Courtenay Museum
    Admission: $5 members; $6 non-members. Plus HST.
    Advance tickets recommended.

    "In Search of British Columbia" examines the foundations of the province we know today, focusing on the explorer Simon Fraser and his experiences charting the region.

    With words and images based on his award-winning book, Simon Fraser: In Search of Modern British Columbia, Stephen Hume will talk about Simon Fraser and how he came in search of wealth and found disappointment, although his exploration has indelibly shaped BC.

    Continue Reading


     

    Let the Festivities Begin


    The holiday season officially arrives at the Courtenay Museum on Saturday, November 27th as we host a community celebration from 11 am to 4:30 pm.

    We're asking people to make the season brighter for those families that need help making Christmas happen. People are invited to bring in a new or gently used toy or gift (unwrapped) for Santa's Workshop or a festive offering for a local food bank.

    There will be a number of special events throughout the day including: book signing by local history authors Judy Hagen (Comox Valley Memories) and Ian Kennedy (The Life and Times of Joseph McPhee) from 1 to 3 pm, craft activities for the children and sweet treats available free of charge.

    The celebration is the museum's way of wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season, and we look forward to hosting all who can make it for this special day.


     

    It's All there in Black and White


    The Pioneers Reunion used to be a major annual event hosted by the Native Sons and Canadian Daughters. Take a gander at this clipping from the Comox District Free Press of November 2, 1955 and see how many names of Valley luminaries you can spot.

    Read this newspaper article from our archives


     

    Elasmosaur's 80,000,022 Birthday Party!


    On Saturday, November 13th the museum is inviting the community to visit, see the exhibits, talk to the paleo experts and bring in their fossil discoveries for identification. The museum will be showing dinosaur movies all day in the Rotary Gallery and on the big screen TVs. Refreshments will be provided.

    It was twenty-two years ago this week that the first elasmosaur found west of the Canadian Rockies was discovered on the banks of the Puntledge River. This and subsequent discoveries lead to a province wide organization of amateur and professional paleontologists called the British Columbia Paleontological Alliance, of which several local residents are directors. In the Comox Valley the fossil discoveries have sparked an army of young and not so young fossil enthusiasts who have made many new discoveries of their own.

    Admission to the elasmosaur's birthday party is by donation to the museum or bring a new or gently used, unwrapped toy for to Santa's Workshop.

    The museum is also looking for dinosaur videos (VHS or DVD) to be donated to our collection and used in our children's programming.


     

    Museum Sponsors

    Dogwood
    Judy and Stan Hagen
    Comox Valley Community Foundation
    Daryl and Evelyn Wright-Francis Jeweller's Ltd.
    The Rotary Club of Courtenay Foundation
    The Robert Hunt Family
    Don and Marie Gordon
    M. Jean McMullan Estate

    Arbutus
    Comox Valley Echo
    Marjorie Thorpe
    The Bickle Family
    Lorna Gunn
    John Wilson and Family
    Judy Gurr
    Sue and Ian Leakey
    Ed LaFleur

    Fir
    Elizabeth Braithwaite
    Jean Hawthorne

    Seedling
    Dove and Mike Hendren
    Ruth Masters
    John and Joan Wilson
    George E. Sprogis
    Gordon Schnare
    Mary Mobley


     

    Photo of the Month


    CDM #989.69.69
    J.E. Aston Shoe Store, Courtenay, 1916

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


     

    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, Valley Charitable Bingo Society, and from museum generated revenues and donations.

    Proud sponsors of the Courtenay & District Museum:


     

    The City of Courtenay

    NSERC

    BC Arts Councils

    BC Hydro

    Regional District Comox-Strathcona