Courtenay & District Museum




  • Elasmosaur Birthday & Christmas Party
  • Lecture: Soul of Wilderness
  • Off to a Flying Start
  • 12 Days of Christmas Special
  • Writers and Books Launch
  • We Remember
  • Photo of the Month
  • A Courtenay Keepsake
  • Courtenay's Centennial
  • Gift Show News
  • It's All There in Black and White
  • Your Membership Makes A Difference
  • Museum Sponsors
  • 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 - 5pm

    Sunday & Monday:
    Closed





    President
    John Wilson

    Vice President
    Daryl Wright

    Past President
    April Shopland

    Rick Ross
    Jim Haggart
    Ross Dingwall
    Harry Squire
    Mary Everson

    Secretary/Treasurer
    Elizabeth Braithwaite

    Member of...

    British Columbia Museums Association

    Canadian Museums
    Association

    Archives Association of
    British Columbia

    Heritage Society of British Columbia





    Comox Museum

    Cumberland Museum

    Comox Air Force Museum

    Filberg Heritage Lodge




     


    Elasmosaur Birthday & Christmas Party

    Party Time!

    It's time once again for our annual open house in honor of the Elasmosaur's birthday. This year he is 80,000,027 years young!

    Be sure to drop in to help us celebrate his birthday and the start to the Christmas season from 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday, November 14th.

    Click here for more details


     


    Lecture: Soul of Wilderness

    Time and Date: 7 pm, Tuesday, November 17, 2015
    Location: Rotary Gallery of the Courtenay and District Museum
    Speakers: John Baldwin and Linda Bily
    Tickets: $5 for Historical Society members; $6 for general public (plus GST). Advance tickets recommended. Tickets can be purchased over the phone by calling 250-334-0686 ext 5.

    Partners, co-authors and photographers Baldwin and Bily have ventured into the magical landscapes of the Coast Mountains. Travelling by foot and ski, their goal was simply to experience and document as much of these remote places as possible - to wander across the high meadows, ski from mountain tops and revel in the artful patterns of new-fallen snow.

    Click here for more details


     


    Off to a Flying Start

    The Comox Valley's newest history book, Watershed Moments, got off to a flying start at its launch last month.

    The hard cover coffee table book that features more than 150 photographs from the collection of the Courtenay and District Museum is garnering terrific reviews.

    Sales have been brisk so make sure you pick up your book soon. Copies are available at the museum gift shop, Laughing Oyster Bookshop and Blue Heron Books.

    Click here for more details


     

    12 Days of Christmas Special

    For Museum Members Only

    The museum offers a 25% discount in our gift shop for all members starting Tuesday, December 1 through to Saturday, December 12. The sale does not apply to merchandise that is already marked down or on consignment.

    The museum shop has many fabulous gifts to choose from so come in and take advantage of this membership bonus.


     


    Writers and Books Launch

    The public is invited to a book launch for Writers and Books, Comox Valley 1865-2015. This volume from the Comox Valley Writers Society celebrates 180 Comox Valley writers whose work has appeared over the past 150 years.

    Everyone is welcome to attend this free event at the Courtenay and District Museum on Thursday, December 3 at 7pm. The doors will open at 6:30 pm.


     

    We Remember

    On Remembrance Day we remember the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace.

    This month we also remember with great respect, Margaret Sarah (Maudy) Hobson (November 9, 1922- October 21, 2015) For more information, click here.

    The Courtenay and District Museum lost a long-time friend and board member this month with the passing of Harry Squire on October 31. More information, click here.


     


    Photo of the Month

    CDM #998.219.261
    Elk Hotel and "Annex", Comox, 1920

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


     


    A Courtenay Keepsake

    The Comox Valley Echo and the Courtenay Museum have teamed up to produce a Courtenay Centennial souvenir magazine featuring museum and community images and historic stories by local authors. Courtenay 100 Years of History, 1915-2015 is a tribute to the centennial year.

    "We say thank you to the Echo who have given generously on this project and done a great job and to the many businesses who have advertised. The proceeds from Courtenay 100 Years of History will go to museum programming," said John Wilson, President of the Courtenay and District Museum society.

    This affordable, 50 page full- colour magazine is available at the museum and the Comox Valley Echo office.


     


    Courtenay's Centennial

    Throughout this year, the museum newsletter will be providing glimpses into the back story on the City's Incorporation, history and development.

    An interesting note in the October 19, 1922 Comox Argus sheds some light on the City's early firefighting efforts. Once a fire was reported, the bell at St. George's Church was rung to alert the members of the brigade to the emergency.

    Light for Fire Alarm Bell

    "The City Clerk is to write to the Board of Managers of St. George's Presbyterian Church asking permission to put a light near the Fire Alarm bell rope so that the bell can be rung without delay. It was at first suggested that this should be a red light, but it was decided that this might have a significance not intended."


     


    Gift Show News

    With Christmas being just around the corner, now is the ideal time for gift hunting. Children are fun to shop for but sometimes it is difficult to find the perfect stocking stuffers. In our gift shop we have a ton of fun and reasonably priced gifts. Here are the top ten best sellers for $10 or under.

    Click Here for the List


     


    It's All There in Black and White

    Do you remember this mystery from 1980? It involved WW II air force flags, the Courtenay Hotel and a couple of unnamed pranksters.

    Check out this article from the November 21st edition of the Comox District Free Press to get the full story.

    Read this newspaper article from our archives

    With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.


     

    Your Membership Makes A Difference

    Purchasing a membership to the Courtenay and District Museum, now in its 54th year, supports heritage preservation in the Comox Valley through special events, lectures, education programmes, research and exhibitions. Your membership benefits these award winning programmes on a year round basis and we appreciate it!

    Becoming a member provides you with discounts in the gift shop and on lectures and an opportunity to support one of the most active regional museums in British Columbia. Thank you for your support.

    Click here to Join


     

    Museum Sponsors

    Dogwood
    Comox Valley Community Foundation
    Judy Hagen
    The Robert Hunt Family
    Bruce McPhee
    Microsoft
    Vancouver Island Exploration Group
    Daryl and Evelyn Wright - Francis Jewellers Ltd.

    Arbutus
    The Bickle Family
    Comox Valley Echo
    Comox Valley Monarch Lions Club
    Ed LaFleur
    Marjorie Thorpe
    John Wilson and Family

    Fir
    Elizabeth Braithwaite
    Des Kennedy

    Seedling

    Christine Dickinson
    Coral Dunn
    Dove and Mike Hendren
    Peggy Hildebrandt
    Ted Lovegrove
    Ruth Masters

    D. Mobley
    Jim Peacock
    April Shopland
    Jean & Ian Sibbald
    Roberts & Adela Smith
    Comox Valley Family History Research Group

    If you're considering donating to a charity, please consider the Courtenay and District Museum. Your support goes towards education programmes, lectures and collection management. We provide a tax receipt to donors.

    Please click here to donate


     

    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, British Columbia Gaming Branch, and from museum generated revenues and donations.

    Proud sponsors of the Courtenay & District Museum:

    The City of Courtenay

    BC Arts Councils

    Regional District Comox-Strathcona