As part of a small group from the Coronation Street Social Club of Oceanside, I had my first look at the Qualicum Beach Museum recently and was very impressed.
We were given an interesting and detailed tour by museum manager Netanja Waddell, a trained archivist, who obviously enjoys her work and finds the history of Qualicum Beach to be one full of personalities and accomplishments. The entire ground floor of the building (the old brick power house) is given over to some of the paleontology collection of Graham Beard, a longtime resident and former teacher at the secondary school, and a little quiet room in which to view two ten-minute videos.
The upper floor holds memorabilia of the town, a small British royalty commemorative collection, and a First Nations corner recognizing the community here when the settlers arrived. Netanja answered all our questions and listened to all the reminiscences of our own younger days when we used some of the items on display. Always a bit of a jarring moment to realize our lives are now museum-worthy.
Anyway, many thanks to the Qualicum Beach Historical and Museum Society and the Town of Qualicum Beach for all they have done to keep the memories alive, and to share them with us.
Gloria Novak
Qualicum Beach