The Comox Valley on Vancouver Island is home to a spectacular watershed, the culmination of snowcap and glacier-fed rivers that flow into the Courtenay River and out onto one of the richest estuaries on the West Coast. Along with the long history of K'ómoks First Nation inhabitation, the community of Courtenay and the surrounding regions have been settled by a variety of people from different cultures and nations. The watershed geography encapsulates these groups' diverse relationships with the region, in industries such as fishing, logging and canning, and in their traditions and everyday lives.

In Watershed Moments, the Courtenay and District Museum opens its vast collection of historical photographs, glass plate negatives and other ephemera, much of which has never before been available to public viewing. Spanning from the late 1800s to the modern era, here are scenes of K'ómoks village life, boating parties, family celebrations, agricultural events and economic activities. This rich visual depiction of the development of this unique region is reinforced by a lively text, drawing heavily on the museum's vast holdings of primary source material. Local authors Dickinson, Griffiths, Hagen and Siba write of ancient fish weirs, bride ships and gentlemen adventurers, back-breaking work and astounding beauty, tracing the complex development of a diverse and ever-changing community.

Christine Dickinson is an educator with a passion for regional history. She co-authored Atlin: The Story of British Columbia's Last Gold Rush (Atlin Historical Society, 1995), which received the Lieutenant-Governor's Award.

Christine Dickinson's profile page

Deborah Griffiths, MA, has experience as a museum administrator, business owner and writer. Along with over twenty years in museum curation and administration, Griffiths has a Master of Arts degree from Royal Roads University. In 2001, she became an independent contractor and has experience in story-line development, research, communications, project management, and proposal and copywriting for businesses, communities and not-for profits. Griffiths has won a number of awards independently as well as with colleagues and has written and co-authored five books.

Deborah Griffiths' profile page

Judy Hagen has been writing her popular "Hunt for History" column for the Comox Valley Echo since 1992. She received an award from the Canadian Museums Association for her book Comox Valley Memories, published by the Courtenay and District Museum in 1993.

Judy Hagen's profile page

Catherine Siba is the Curator of Social History at the Courtenay and District Museum. She has led a number of historic digitization projects and has been involved with museum curatorship and research for many years.

Catherine Siba's profile page