Cortes Island Museum & Archives

Cortes Island Museum & Archives The Cortes Island Museum building began life in 1946 as a family store at the head of Mansons Landing. Our exhibits change often! We value your donations.

We have now two locations, 957 Beesley Road – Main Ballery, 1255 Seaford Road – Wild Cortes, Natural History Centre. It helps us with our programs and activities. Please donate: https://cortesmuseum.com/about-us/support-us/donate/

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. around Cortes.Cortes Island Museum Annual Fundraiser!This annual, self-guided...
06/02/2026

Saturday, June 20, 2026, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. around Cortes.

Cortes Island Museum Annual Fundraiser!

This annual, self-guided, all-island tour showcases numerous gardens and studios on Cortes Island.

You will spend the day exploring some beautiful spaces on the island from Whaletown to Cortes Bay and discover the creative talents of Cortes Islanders. Tickets, which include the tour map, are now available at Cortes stores, Quadra Island’s Inspirations, Friday Markets at Manson’s Hall, Wild Cortes, and the Museum. Please bring cash; the Museum also accepts credit cards and Interac.

This tour is an important fundraiser for the Cortes Island Museum & Archives, and all proceeds will support the Museum’s programs.

Some studios or gardens will be featured in more detail in separate posts. Please stay tuned and visit our website at www.cortesmuseum.com for additional information.

Thank you to all gardeners and artists participating in the tour and showcasing their talents!

We invite everyone to take advantage of this unique opportunity to visit spaces you do not normally get to see – so get your tickets soon!

For more information about the tour or to purchase tickets, call the Museum at 250-935-6340 or email [email protected].

Are you 17–30 years old and looking for engaging work in natural history this summer? Wild Cortes is hiring a Curatorial...
05/26/2026

Are you 17–30 years old and looking for engaging work in natural history this summer? Wild Cortes is hiring a Curatorial Assistant/Host to assist with mounts, displays and interpretation this summer season.

Located at Linnaea Education Centre, 1255 Seaford Road, Wild Cortes is the off-site learning centre and EcoLab of the Cortes Museum and Archives Society. The wage for this position is $23.00/hour for a 30-hour workweek from mid-June through the end of August.

We are looking for a science-minded, hands-on, self-reliant and friendly person with a desire to learn about taxidermy, species at risk and the natural history of Cortes Island. Computer skills are required. Applicants should be comfortable working with animal specimens.

Position – Curatorial Assistant/Host

• Where: Wild Cortes, Linnaea Education Centre, 1255 Seaford Road
• Date: Mid-June (flexible) through to the end of August
• Wage & Hours: $23.00/hour, 30 hours/week
• Position: A hands-on opportunity ideal for learning and sharing knowledge about taxidermy, species at risk, and the natural history of Cortes Island. Candidates should be comfortable working with animal specimens. Computer skills are required, and all training will be provided.

Funded by Canada Summer Jobs, this position offers excellent opportunities to build skills tailored to future careers in museums, natural history centres, education, visitor services, event planning, and more! Do you have questions and want to chat? Call the Museum at 250-935-6340.

We value diversity and inclusivity and welcome applications from individuals of all abilities and backgrounds. To apply, please submit your resume to [email protected] with “Wild Cortes Curatorial Assistant” in the subject line.

Candidates will be interviewed as applications are received. The position will remain open until filled. Interviews may be conducted in person or virtually.

Secure accommodation on Cortes Island is essential.
To learn more about Cortes Island Museum and Wild Cortes, visit our website, www.cortesmuseum.com and www.wildcortes.ca, and visit our page, https://www.facebook.com/CimasCortes/

Workshop: Kintsugi: Embracing ImperfectionPresenter: Yuka Morino, Three Little Spruce (https://www.threelittlespruce.com...
05/06/2026

Workshop: Kintsugi: Embracing Imperfection
Presenter: Yuka Morino, Three Little Spruce (https://www.threelittlespruce.com/)
Date: May 23, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., May 24, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society, 957 Beesley Road
Fee: $400
Registration required. Call the Museum at 250-935-6340 or email [email protected]
Workshop limited to 12 participants

Workshop Details:
"Kintsugi: Embracing Imperfection" *No repair experience required. Everyone is welcome.

In this 2-day course, participants will learn the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery, Kintsugi.

The intricate process of Kintsugi will be taught through hands-on instruction in a classroom setting, and students will also create their own lacquerware pieces from natural-wood chopsticks.
During the session, each participant will have the opportunity to work on broken ceramic pieces at various stages of Kintsugi. All participants will be able to take home the Kintsugi piece they work on.

Important Note: We will use Urushi lacquer, essential for Kintsugi, which can cause severe skin irritation (in this session, low-sensitivity Urushi lacquer will be provided). Participants must wear the provided gloves and apply Vaseline to exposed skin. Avoid contact with unintended surfaces.

Provided Materials
● Broken ceramics to mend
● Urushi lacquer
● Tonoko (mineral)
● Bengara (mineral)
● Flour
● Brass powder
● Wooden chopsticks
● Kintsugi Materials Kit $86

Supplies to Bring with You
● A cardboard box to secure your ceramics (also used as Urushiburo). Your finished piece will take a week to dry so it needs to be protected on its way home. Once home, keep it indoors rather than outside, as exposure to the weather will cause it to deteriorate.
● Towel
● Long-sleeve work clothes to protect your skin

Additional Purchasable Materials (Onsite)
● Gold powder (Market price)
● Silver powder (Market price)
● Ceramic repair full kit $196 ($86 deductible)
● Tool set $34
● Additional wooden chopsticks $6

Kintsugi, 金継ぎ, literally translated from Japanese, means "golden joinery". This traditional Japanese art of repairing broken ceramics uses natural materials, such as tree sap, clay, and flour dusted with gold (or other precious metals) to make the cracks or broken lines beautiful. The cracks are called Keshiki 景色, which in Japanese means scenery, landscape, or view. They become part of the object's story, emphasizing its history. More than just a craft, these practices embody resilience, sustainability, and the beauty of imperfection.

Sunday, May 10, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.at the Cortes Island Museum, 957 Beesley RoadFilm directed by Karen McDiarmid"Shining...
05/06/2026

Sunday, May 10, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
at the Cortes Island Museum, 957 Beesley Road
Film directed by Karen McDiarmid

"Shining Spirit: The Musical Journey of Jamyang Yeshi" was filmed in Canada, India, and Tibet between 2006 and 2009. It documents a recording project that brings together the family of the Tibetan musician Jamyang Yeshi through music and multi-tracking technology. With help from Canadian and Tibetan friends, Jamyang, a refugee in Canada, and his brother, Tsundue, in exile in the United States, join voices with the family they left behind in Tibet. For the first time in over a decade, they sing together again. Shining Spirit is a testament to the power of music, the resilience of Tibetan culture, and the enduring bond of a family separated by politics and geography.

"Shining Spirit" was screened at festivals and venues around the world, including Telluride MountainFilm; National Geographic in Washington, DC; the Rubin Museum in NYC; and the 2010 Banff Mountain Film Festival. It won numerous awards, including third prize at the Kathmandu Mountain Film Festival.

Jamyang Yeshi now lives with his wife and two young sons in Duncan, B.C. He was invited to Dharamsala, India, last year to perform at the Dalai Lama's 90th birthday celebrations.

This free event is open to everyone. Donations are welcome, and proceeds will benefit the Tibetan Children’s Village charity.

Spring Migration Birding DaySaturday, May 9Meet at 9 a.m. at the Museum, 957 Beesley Road, or9:30 a.m. at Seavista Road ...
05/05/2026

Spring Migration Birding Day
Saturday, May 9
Meet at 9 a.m. at the Museum, 957 Beesley Road, or
9:30 a.m. at Seavista Road in Whaletown

Since 2004, the Cortes Island Museum has led the Spring Migration Bird Count, usually held on the first Saturday of May.

This is a relaxing, fun day when we travel as a group, share our knowledge, and record the species we observe. We meet at the Museum (957 Beasley Road) at 9 a.m., then carpool to the driveway entrance at 286 Seavista Road in Whaletown to join the rest of the birders there at 9:30. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome. Some walking is involved.

You are encouraged to bring binoculars, cameras, bird books, and lunch to eat along the way. How long you stay is up to you, but we usually wrap up at Smelt Bay in the mid-afternoon.
If you cannot join us at the Museum, you can still send us your three days’ observations (species names only, not the number of birds). Email [email protected].

Come along for a delightful two- to three-hour adventure exploring wonderful nearby birding spots with George Sirk!Bring...
05/01/2026

Come along for a delightful two- to three-hour adventure exploring wonderful nearby birding spots with George Sirk!

Bring snacks, water, and comfortable shoes to enjoy the day.

If you have a cell phone with the Merlin app, it can be helpful, though it's not required.

Binoculars, a small notebook, and bird books can enhance your experience – George will even bring an extra pair of binoculars, just in case.

Children are very welcome, provided they are supervised.

We’ll meet at the Museum, 957 Beesley Road, on Saturday, May 2, at 9 a.m.

Looking forward to a fun and engaging day of birdwatching!

This is a great introduction to birdwatching and to our annual Spring Migration Birding Day, coming up the following Saturday, May 9, starting at 9 a.m. at the Museum or 9:30 a.m. at Seavista Road.

Both events are free. Donations are greatly appreciated.

Great events at the Museum and Wild Cortes are coming now! Come and join us. We have something interesting just for you!
04/15/2026

Great events at the Museum and Wild Cortes are coming now! Come and join us. We have something interesting just for you!

Our May events! Something for everyone!Check our website, www.cortesmuseum.com, for more information.
04/15/2026

Our May events! Something for everyone!
Check our website, www.cortesmuseum.com, for more information.

Address

957 Beesley Road
Mansons Landing, BC
V0P1K0

Opening Hours

Friday 12pm - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+12509356340

Website

http://www.wildcortes.ca/, https://cortesmuseum.com/visit-us/tourist-information/, http://

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