The Qualicum Beach Museum is turning a new chapter in history.
The iconic industrial building is now undergoing its first major renovation since its inception in 1994.
“Museums can’t be static,” said museum manager Netanja Waddell. “They have to be active and change to stay current but also to stay interesting.”
The renovations include opening up the main entrance, adding a gift shop section, new bathrooms, taking down a few interior walls and adding a set of glass doors etched by Bowser glass artist Paul Crawford depicting the importance of the local ecosystem with sea life, mountains and a dog salmon, which is where the name Qualicum comes from.
With the looming changes, Waddell said the museum has returned all their on-loan artifacts back to their owners, including antique school desks.
So she’s calling out to the community for vintage, wooden school desks for their second-floor old school house exhibit.
“If anybody has any old, wooden children’s school desks — especially if they are linked to the history of Qualicum — we’d love to use them,” said Waddell.
Additionally, she said if anybody has artifacts or photography related to the history of Qualicum Beach they are interested in donating (or copying for photos) to the museum that would be greatly appreciated.
“We’re looking to tell the story of Qualicum Beach,” said Waddell.
This initial set of renovations is the first in a multi-phase project that will depend on funding in the future, something staff and volunteers will be focused on for the next few years.
“It’s exciting, I like change,” said Waddell. “It’s always good to open the door to the future.”
Renovations are still underway but the Qualicum Beach Museum is hoping to open to the public in May. Check The NEWS for more updates.
If you have any vintage school desks, artifacts or photography related to the history of Qualicum Beach that you are interested in sharing with the museum please contact Netanja Waddell at 250-752-5533.
