BC’s Marvellous Mushrooms

A new travelling exhibition, BC’s Marvellous Mushrooms, created by the Royal BC Museum, explores the science and practical uses of mushrooms today, highlighting some of the most fascinating of the 3,400 known species in the province.

BC’s Marvellous Mushrooms encourages visitors to learn more about BC mushrooms and their versality. It introduces a cross-section of different species—some familiar, some bizarre, some delicious and some deadly. Their lives are interwoven with every part of British Columbia ecosystems.

Mushrooms are not only a subject of scientific study but also a source of food, dyes, and medicine; and objects of ceremony and beauty. This exhibition delves into the many facets of these fabulous fungi.

Featuring interpretive graphic panels, hand-sculpted mushroom models and foraging equipment, the exhibition facilitates visitors’ understanding of BC mushrooms and their many uses.

“The Courtenay Museum is very pleased to host this exhibit. We’ve also added some local tie-ins to the show including canvases by Laura McGlone Photography and Comox District Free Press articles from the 1970s and ‘80s when mushroom pickers made front page news” said a CDM spokesperson.

BC’s Marvellous Mushrooms was created in 2021 to accompany the Royal BC Museum’s popular new handbook, Mushrooms of British Columbia by Andy MacKinnon and Kem Luther—a comprehensive and practical guide suitable for both professional and amateur mushroom enthusiasts.

“British Columbians love mushrooms!” says Mushrooms of British Columbia author Andy MacKinnon. “This family-friendly exhibit explores the many ways that people in our province interact with BC’s fabulous fungi.”