The Qualicum Beach Museum is now open five days a week, from Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The extended hours isn’t the only thing new at the museum, the building at 587 Beach Rd. has also received renovations inside as part of it’s revitalization plan. Phase one of the revitalization plan took place in 2015 and phase two was completed recently. The second phase included an expansion of the museum’s paleontology exhibit and the addition of the Graham Beard theatre which curates the internationally know fossil collector’s collection.
“[Graham Beard’s] passion has been paleontology for his entire life,” said museum manager Netanja Waddell. “He started searching for fossils when he was a little boy and he’s in his 70s now. It’s a great big collection that includes lots from Vancouver Island but also pieces from around the world.”
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On the other side of the paleontology exhibit on the main floor of the museum is the social history exhibit, which has been a permanent exhibit at the museum and continues to see expansions. Upstairs at the museum is a space for travelling exhibits and is now home to the brand new Qualicum First Nation display developed with help from carver Jesse Recalma.
In addition to the Indigenous display, upstairs you can find artifacts from historical Qualicum Beach including items that belonged to General Money—a key shareholder and the manger of the Qualicum Beach Hotel and Golf Course in the early 1900s. The museum also displays contents of pioneer homes from the early 1900s, vintage toys and a school exhibit.
An oral history area is also available to view that includes two, 10-minute videos that were made after Waddell interviewed pioneers in the area and added historical live footage and archival photographs.
“We’re also continuing with our QB Reads series. Last year we invited four local authors to come and present their books over the summer; one author per month and it was really successful,” Waddell said. “We’re carrying on this year with more authors coming for the months of June, July, August and September. The last Thursday evening of the month we have an author come and present. Call to reserve a spot because it’s limited seating.”
For more information on the Qualicum Beach Museum visit www.qbmuseum.ca.