Mid Island News » Nanaimo Museum

Wanted: Island Historical Stories

admin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:45:43 +0000

Do you have old stories to share about living on Vancouver Island?

The BC Historical Federation has started a permanent online source dedicated to British Columbia history and they are looking for your pioneer stories.

The BCHF are looking for historical stories or things you remember about the old days. This might include transportation, railway, oil companies, real estate companies, steamships, coal mines, steamboats, road building that sort of thing. For example, it is often quite hard finding out when a road or other project was completed but the local inhabitants know these details.

The goal of the online history project is to be the source where those seeking information on BC history can find useful answers to their questions and also serve as a valuable learning tool.

To find out more and where to submit your writing go to BC History Online.

Mid Island News

Nanaimo Museum Fun for Kids

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:50:47 +0000

Are you looking for something to do this spring break? The Nanaimo Museum on Commercial Street has family drop-in activities all this week from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. Each day there is a new theme and unique activity. Activities are designed for children ages 5 through12 and admission is by donation.

Family Tree for Me (Monday, March 19, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Bring your own old family photo (small) to make a picture magnet
Start your own family tree
Make a quill pen
Create a family memory book

Coal Miner (Tuesday, March 20, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Make a crystal garden using coal
Be like a coal miner and go on a walk through the dark mine tunnel
Make a safety lamp

Birds! Birds! Birds! (Wednesday, March 21, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Create heron inspired art projects
Explore how birds eat by doing the bird beak activity
Make your own bird journal

Old Fashioned Toys (Thursday, March 22, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Play with old fashioned toys, just like children did 100 years ago
Learn how to play with marbles, the acrobatic man, whirligigs, tumbling clowns and pick-up sticks, also try your hand at making Victorian toys such as paper dolls, thaumatrope and whirligigs

Snoopy in Space (Friday, March 23, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
Get ready for our upcoming Feature exhibit “Snoopy Soars with NASA”
Learn how to draw Snoopy and other Peanuts characters, step-by-step
Make your own comic strip about Snoopy in space, create an orbiting planet art project, construct a star finder, and a balloon rocket.

For more information email program(at)nanaimomuseum.ca.

Mid Island News

End of an Era: Nanaimo Beban House up for Rent

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:47:25 +0000

Historic Beban House at 2290 Bowen Road, home to Tourism Nanaimo since 1997, is now up for rent.

A site visit will be held on January 11, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Beban House for those interested in renting Beban House. Closing date for offers to rent Beban House is 2:00pm PST, January 19, 2012 at the Purchasing Office, City of Nanaimo 2020 Labieux Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6J9.

Historic Beban House in Nanaimo

The story behind Historic Beban House:

Frank Beban was born in New Zealand in 1882 and emigrated to Canada in 1907. By 1911, Mr. Beban opened a sawmill in Cumberland, followed by a lumber mill and a coal mine in Extension. In 1927, he acquired the Empire Lumber Company.

In 1930, Mr. Beban and his family purchased an existing farm of 160 acres upon which he built a house and a racetrack where he trained thoroughbreds. The house was designed with a porte-cochère and the interior in the art deco style which was popular in that era. The gardens of the house were extensive. Mr. Beban died in 1952 and the house and property were purchased by the City of Nanaimo in 1953.

For 35 years, the house was neglected to the point where the City of Nanaimo considered demolishing it. The gardens had turned to weeds. In the early 1990s, the City realized that the house was designed in an architectural style that was unique to Vancouver Island and listed it on their historical register. In 1997, it became the home of Tourism Nanaimo which occupied this site since then.

What will be the next life of Historic Beban House in Nanaimo?

Mid Island News

Kids Christmas Workshop at the Nanaimo Museum

admin — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:00:45 +0000

Come to the Nanaimo Museum this Saturday, December 10th from 11 am to 4 pm and experience what Christmas was like a hundred years ago.

Whisper your Christmas wishes to Santa who will be going over his list in the lobby. Then listen to Anne Royle tell some old Christmas tales (11:30 and 12:30). You can make toys to take home, decorate Christmas sugar cookies and have fun eating them! Sing Christmas carols with Arvon Brunt from 1pm to 3pm and create old fashioned felt stockings to hang above your fireplace.

Free admission, please bring a non-perishable item for the food bank. Everyone is welcome!

Mid Island News

Local art & horse-drawn carriage rides in Nanaimo

admin — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:50:27 +0000

Time to head downtown Nanaimo for the art walk and tour.

Fifty Island artists are featuring their original artworks at 25 locations in and around downtown this Saturday and Sunday, December 3rd and 4th from 11am to 5pm. Go have a look at 13th Annual Downtown and Old City Quarter Nanaimo Art Walk; you will be amazed at all the beautiful works of art!

Also, you can take a ride on a horse drawn carriage through downtown Nanaimo. Starting tomorrow, there will be carriage rides each Saturday December 3rd, 10th, and 17th, 2011 from 12pm to 4 pm (by donation). Pick up and drop off points are at Nanaimo Museum on Commercial and St. Andrew’s Church at Wesley and Fitzwilliam.

Mid Island News

Veterans Historical Memory Project

admin — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:20:09 +0000

Remembrance Day is just around the corner. An important question is how does a society preserve the memories of its war veterans?

The Memory Project is a nationwide oral history project that gives veterans an opportunity to tell their stories first hand and have it recorded so others can hear their experiences.

Starting back in 2009 the project first collected stories from the Second World War and now they have expanded to collecting veterans’ experiences from the Korean War. The Korean War project will extend until 2013.

Any veterans who would like to participate in The Memory Project can call 1-866-701-1867 or email memory(at)historicadominion.ca.

Mid Island News

World Town Planning Event in Nanaimo

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:30:25 +0000

Are you interested in a career in the planning profession? Or just curious about future projects around the City of Nanaimo? Your opportunity to find out more about the planning profession and speak with the city’s planners has arrived.

This Tuesday, November 8th, is World Town Planning Day! Meet the City of Nanaimo planning department staff from 11:30am to 2:00pm at the Nanaimo Museum to celebrate World Town Planning Day and the greatest street in Canada – Commercial Street, Nanaimo.

There will be FREE heritage tours at 12:00pm, 12:30pm and 1:00pm.

Help your self to FREE Nanaimo bars and coffee, plus a large map of Commercial Street where you can cast your vote for your favourite building, heritage photos, and a children’s colouring book for the kids.

This year Commercial Street in Nanaimo was named the greatest street in Canada and recognized for its historic character by the Great Places in Canada contest hosted by the Canadian Institute of Planners.

Mid Island News

Astronomy Event in Nanaimo

admin — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:00:35 +0000

Do you enjoy looking at the night sky? Come to The Nanaimo Museum and enjoy the ‘Wonders of the Universe‘ this Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 11 am to 4pm.

This event is presented with support from The Nanaimo Astronomy Society and there will be meteorite and telescope and 3D multimedia displays.

11am: Children’s workshop (recommended for ages 8-12). Each participant will assemble a take-home night sky projector that illuminates the major constellations in the northern and southern hemisphere, creating a starry night sky on the ceiling. The fee for this workshop is $25 per participant and space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended.

1pm: Astronomy presentation. Garland Coulson will talk about ‘Telescope Buying Tips for Beginners’. If you are just starting out with stargazing you probably have a lot of questions about the kind of telescope and equipment to buy, including how much should you spend, what is the best telescope on a budget, and what type is best for youngsters. In this light, humour-filled presentation, Garland will recount his own misguided buying frenzy when he first started and show you how to get the right telescope at the right price for your needs.

2pm: Book reading and presentation. Martyn Jones will talk about his books, “The Sky Full of Stars” and “Falling through the Stars” and give a 5-minute reading. He will make a presentation on ‘The Big What If,’ about the possibility of worlds similar to Earth that may be found within 50 light years of Earth.

Mid Island News

Historical Fashions come to Nanaimo Museum

admin — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:20:38 +0000

Are you a historical fashion fan? You will be interested in seeing the new exhibit at the Nanaimo Museum, “Women’s Fashion of La Belle Epoque 1890-1914″ on from September 2nd to December 31, 2011.

The Victorian era was a time when vast fortunes were being made as a result of the industrial revolution. With increased wealth and new manufacturing opportunities developed through international trade, fashion became a more accessible indulgence for all women.

Come listen to Ivan Sayers talk about this interesting era on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 from 2pm to 4pm.

Mr. Sayers has one of the largest and most comprehensive collections of historic clothing in private hands in Canada, and is the curator for the Original Costume Museum Society, a group dedicated to preserving historical clothing from around the world.

Mid Island News

Moorecroft Park needs a Live-In Caretaker

admin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 13:00:05 +0000

Would you like to live on the waterfront? The Regional District of Nanaimo is looking for someone to provide year-round live-in caretaking services at Moorecroft Regional Park in Nanoose Bay.

In exchange for providing a watchful eye, you could live rent free for a year with all services paid (excluding telephone and internet). Applications are due before September 6, 2011.

For more information, go to the Regional District of Nanaimo website on the blogroll.

Mid Island News