Latest News
Upcoming Lecture: The Best Loved Boat: Princess Maquinna
Kennedy’s talk, based on the book of the same title, tells the story of the BC built ship, the Princess Maquinna that sailed up and down the west cost of Vancouver Island for nearly forty years from 1913 until 1952. Princess Maquinna, sometimes referred to as the “Ugly Princess” but most often “Old Faithful,” transported Indigenous people, settlers, missionaries, loggers, cannery workers, prospectors and travellers of all kinds up and down Vancouver Island’s rugged and dangerous west coast, stopping at up to forty ports of call on her seven-day run.
Leaps and Bounds
To celebrate the 2024 leap year this February, the museum would like to shine a light on this wind-up toy frog from the collection.
Black History Month in BC
Want to learn more? Check out the BC Black History Awareness Society’s The History of Black History Month here.
30% Off Gift Shop Sale
Selected items will be 30% off for the month of February (while supplies last). The sale will include Wrendale Designs wall clocks adorned with ducks or robins, as well as fold-up tote bags featuring robins, rabbits, or hydrangea and bees. All Thornback & Peel aprons, along with matching heavy duty 100% cotton tote bags are included in the sale.
Heritage Week 2024
Spend the week in the Comox Valley at one of our many museums and explore Filberg Heritage Lodge & Park’s interactive Heritage Week.
Lunar New Year
The Lunar New Year, which is an important holiday celebrated in several Asian cultures across Canada and around the world, will begin on February 10th this year. The Lunar New Year is celebrated after the first new moon of the Lunar calendar every year. During this time, communities decorate their surroundings, prepare festive food, and come together with their loved ones to welcome in the new year. The upcoming Lunar New Year of 2024 is the Year of the Dragon.
Courtenay Streets: Duncan Avenue
This month’s edition highlights Duncan Avenue: the family behind the name, as well as the businesses and neighbours that populated the area. The article was penned by local historian Dorothy Isabelle Stubbs (1905-2003) who wrote several different columns for newspapers over the years including “Spotlight on Courtenay Streets” for the Comox District Free Press in 1970. This article appeared in the February 11th edition.
Courtenay Streets: Bonus Photo 2
Sandwick Manor, Eric and Anna Duncan’s house, built by Eric Duncan for his wife, Anna in 1910-1911.
It’s All There in Black and White: Valentine’s Day 1984
With Valentine’s Day coming up on February 14th, many businesses provided ideas for Comox Valley sweethearts in this February 8th, 1984 ad page of the Comox District Free Press.
January 2024: New Gift Shop Items
The museum is happy to announce a few new plush additions to the gift shop. These include ravenous mosasaurs, realistic nautiluses, and (the stars of the show) x-ray elasmosaurs!
Happy New Year
This c.1890s card has a timeless sentiment that the museum wishes to echo as we enter the new year: “May kind words and good deeds make this a Happy Year.”
Courtenay Streets: Bonus Photo 1
Alice and Tom Beckensell, May 31, 1889. Photographed by E.C. Brooks in Victoria, BC.
Courtenay Streets
Local historian Dorothy Isabelle Stubbs (1905-2003) wrote several different columns for newspapers over the years including “Spotlight on Courtenay Streets” for the Comox District Free Press in 1970.