Latest News
It’s All There in Black and White: Comox Valley and V-E Day
A time to join together and give thanks for victory in Europe played out in halls and churches of the Comox Valley 75 years ago this month. Find out more in this article from the Comox District Free Press of May 10, 1945. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
Father’s Day Gift Ideas
Father's Day is coming up on Sunday, June 21st and we have many reasonably priced gifts in the $5 to $35 range. Here's a top 10 list of suggestions for that special Dad. 1. Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District book 2. Dinosaur socks 3. Elasmosaur coffee 4. Bear/octopus/Vancouver Island t-shirt by West Coast Karma 5. Ammonite or fern design ceramic mug 6. Gift certificate for a Fossil Tour 7. Backroad Map books or waterproof map of Vancouver Island 8. Water bottle 9. Bear bells 10. Elasmosaur chocolate bar (milk or dark)
Thank you Wayward Distillery!
Courtenay’s Wayward Distillery has donated 2000 litres of its hand sanitizer to the Comox Valley Community Foundation for distribution to not-for-profits and emergency services in the Comox Valley and Campbell River. The Courtenay and District Museum is very pleased and grateful to receive three 20 litre pails to promote good hand hygiene for all visitors and staff. Dave Brimacombe, CEO of Wayward Distillery, reached out to both the Campbell River and Comox Valley Community Foundations as he is well aware of the broad reach of these foundations. “The team at Wayward loves to play and work right here, in this spectacular part of the [...]
From Our Library: Park’s Floral Guide
CDM 977.13.2 Park's Floral Guide for 1905 is a wonderful example of a nursery catalogue from the period. The lack of colour images may feel odd to our 21st century eyes but the booklet is illustrated with original detailed engravings. Note that George W. Park is the business owner. A seedsman and florist named "Park" - destiny fulfilled.
April 2020 Watershed Moments
Here is the latest newsletter installment of an image from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Photo credit: A hand-coloured postcard featuring Moat Lake on Forbidden Plateau, 1930s. Preston L. Tait photograph. Photo: 975.36.10. Page 7. Photo caption: "Strathcona Park, designated in 1911, is the oldest park in British Columbia and includes 250,000 hectares in the Forbidden Plateau and Buttle Lake areas." Page 125.
From Our Library
We hope you enjoy this page of food substitutions from Edith Adam's Wartime Cook Book published in 1943 by The Vancouver Sun. The preface states that the "recipes in this book were chosen because they call for only materials available on our markets." It might be fun to try some of the dishes just to see how they turn out! Click for Larger Image Click for Larger Image
Easter Offering
This lovely image is from a scrapbook donated to the archives over 45 years ago. Inscribed inside the front cover are the words "Minnie Berkeley" and "from Mamma, Xmas 1894." Minnie filled the pages with pressed flowers, calling cards and inspirational messages. Minnie Rose Berkeley was born in Sandwick April 28, 1880. She was the daughter of John and Agnes Berkeley. John was one of the first loggers in the district and provincial road superintendent. Minnie married George Swan in 1904. Together they had a family of six children: Madeline, Lloyd, Reggie, Billy, Murray and Norman. Minnie died in December of 1936. Her obituary [...]
COVID-19 Update – Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Centre Closed
This is a special announcement from the Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Centre regarding COVID-19. In tandem with the City of Courtenay cultural and recreational facilities, the museum will close to the public until further notice. Alternate Programming For people at home, you might want to view the museum's YouTube Channel to learn more about the museum, about fossil collections and explore with some of the scientists who have been involved with discoveries and exhibits at the Courtenay and District Museum. We will be providing more information regarding opportunities to connect through virtual tours and education sessions as soon as possible. Helpful Learning [...]
It’s All There in Black and White: CRUD is for Clean
It was all hands on deck for the Comox Valley spring clean-up of 1970 as seen in this March 18 article from the Comox District Free Press. But, you may be asking, what the heck is SPEC? Why it is the Society Promoting Environmental Conservation of course! Founded in 1969, SPEC's website identifies itself as the "oldest environmental non-profit in Canada." The Comox Valley SPEC group and hundreds of volunteers made our local campaign the biggest in BC that year. With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
March 2020 Watershed Moments
Here is the latest newsletter installment of an image from the museum's award-winning book Watershed Moments - A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District. Photo credit: A dramatic family portrait by Walter Gage, ca. 1905. Photo: 990.24.13. Page vi. The family in this portrait have been identified by their descendants and the date revised since publication of Watershed Moments. They are the McKelvey family of Dove Creek. The patriarch, Stafford, died December 28, 1901 at the age of 42 from "acute general peritonitis." Left to right: William, Nancy, Stafford, Mary Hannah and Frederick Allan. Missing from the photo is the eldest son Adam Samuel [...]
March 2020 Gift Shop News
Spring is in the air and it's a great time to come and check out new items in store. There are some fabulous cotton totes with bright and cheerful bear, hummingbird, orca and octopus designs. The totes are lightweight but strong; good for using around town or great gifts to mail friends overseas. Easter is just around the corner and we have some lovely items if you're looking for gifts. How about a floral china mug in a matching gift box? Take a look at our huggable stuffed bunnies or (the much less huggable) concrete rabbits for your garden decor. We also carry plenty [...]
Royal BC Museum Exhibit: Wildlife Photographer of the Year
February 14 to March 29, 2020 Experience the wonders of nature through the lenses of award-winning photographers from around the world. Now in its 55th year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition showcases a global selection of outstanding nature photography. Each photo is presented in a huge backlit display with a caption exploring the image’s compelling story. Travelling from London’s Natural History Museum, this exhibition takes viewers on a visual journey around the world, bringing the talent and vision of each photographer closer to all who visit. The images evoke a wide range of emotions but are always visually stunning and thought-provoking. A [...]
1970’s Valentine’s Day
Love is in the air... or maybe it’s the scent of Tabu Cologne? This ad for Comox’s Winsby Western Drugs in the Comox Shopping Centre appeared in the February 4, 1970 Comox District Free Press. The prices will make you weep!