COVID-19 safety protocols are in place and tours are limited to small groups. Please visit our site for more information or phone 250-334-0686 to book a tour.
Step Into Wilderness Pre-Sale Opportunity
The Courtenay and District Museum staff and volunteers are happy to announce that Harbour Publishing will release Step Into Wilderness - A Pictorial History of Outdoor Exploration in and around the Comox Valley in early October. This is a full colour hardcopy book with narrative built around 150 images from family albums, professional photography and journals, diaries, news accounts, maps and ephemera.
From shores to peaks, Step Into Wilderness recounts moments of ingenuity and hardship as well as fun and enjoyment in and around the Comox Valley. The book will retail for $39.95 plus GST.
From now until September 30, the museum is offering pre-sale opportunities of a 10% discount for non-members and 25% discount for current Historical Society members.
Anyone interested in a pre-purchase can email the museum at info@courtenaymuseum.ca or phone 250-334-0686 ext. 2 to place their order. All proceeds from Step Into Wilderness go to the Courtenay and District Museum.
Gift Shop News
Drop by the museum gift shop and check out the fresh new look!
The underwater theme has been retired to make way for a shabby chic vibe with lots of open space that is great for social distancing.
Shelves are full of innovative gifts with an emphasis on locally made items. Lots of great gifts for yourself or your friends at fabulously good prices.
The gift shop is open the same hours as the museum: Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.
You can also see some of our merchandise on the museum Facebook page.
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: Postcard showing the view over the Dyke Flats towards Courtenay, after 1926. The photo was likely hand-tinted by Spalding’s wife, Ida Merle Spalding. Joseph Frederick Spalding photograph. Photo: 999.154.2.
Click Here for a Larger Version
Your Membership and Donations Make A Difference
Purchasing a membership to the Courtenay and District Museum, now in its 59th 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
Click Here to Make a Donation
Photo of the Month
CDM #985.89.17 Haying, Comox, 1918
You can view more photos like this on our website. Click here to visit our holdings.
Just For Fun
Some silly flirtations you might want to try from the 1916 Fun Magic and Mystery book No. 43 published by I. & M. Ottenheimer.
Eye Flirtation
Winking the right - I love you
Winking the left - I hate you
Winking both eyes - Yes
Winking both eyes at once - We are watched
Winking right eye twice - I am engaged
Winking left eye twice - I am married
Dropping the eyelids - May I kiss you?
Raising the eyebrows - Kiss me
Closing left eye slowly - Try and love me?
Closing the right eye slowly - You are beautiful.
Hat Flirtation
Wearing the hat squarely on the head - I love you madly
Tipping it over the right ear - My little brother has the measles
Pulling it over the eyes - You must not recognize me
Wearing it on the back of the head - Ta,ta; awfully, awful
Taking it off and brushing it the wrong way - My heart is busted
Holding it out in the right hand - Lend me a quarter
Leaving it with your uncle - Have been to a church fair
Throwing it to a policeman - I love your sister
Using it as a fan - Come and see my aunt
Carrying a brick in it - Your cruelty is killing me
Kicking it upstairs - Is the old man around?
Kicking it downstairs - Where is your mother?
Kicking it across the street - I am engaged
Hanging it on right elbow - Will call to-night
Hanging on left elbow - Am badly left
Putting it on ground and sitting on it - Farewell forever
It's All There in Black and White
A multi-talented feline made good south of the border. The Comox District Free Press of September 9, 1937 carried the story of his lucky break on the front page.
Read More
With legacy support from the Bickle Family and the Comox Valley Echo.
Virtual Annual General Meeting
The annual general meeting of the Courtenay and District Historical Society will be held via Zoom on Wednesday, September 16 at 5 pm.
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:
