What are the opening hours?

Wednesday 10am - 3pm Thursday 10am - 3pm Friday 10am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 3pm Sunday 10am - 3pm

Chemainus Valley Museum

Name: Chemainus Valley Museum
Address: 9799 Water Wheel Crescent, Chemainus, BC, V0R1K0, CA
Telephone: 12502462445
Price range: Not Applicable

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Chemainus Valley Museum

The museum is located in Chemainus’ beautiful Waterwheel Park. Its mission is to preserve the history of our region.

We acknowledge with respect the shared, unceded traditional territories of the Punexluxxutth Tribe and the hul’qumin’um speaking peoples.

06/19/2026

Friday June19, 2026
Canada's Father's Day is June 21, 2026! And for all father's and fathering types, we applaud you!
Here's some photographs of fathers and their families!

06/12/2026

Friday June 12, 2026

Another GOTO book we often quote is "MEMORIES OF THE CHEMAINUS VALLEY", originally printed in 1978 by the Chemainus Historical Society. It is filled with anecdotes and recollections of the past (European arrival to the early 1960s). We all know that remembering the past is faulty, so we must take these "histories", not so much as fact, but as stories.
Here are some of the photographs that match our stories.

A more recent edition of the book can be found in our gift shop!

06/05/2026

Friday June 5th 2026

One of our "GOTO" books in our collection is "WATER OVER THE WHEEL", originally printed in 1963 by Harry Olsen. "The first serial rights were donated by the author to the Chemainus Valley Historical Society for the benefit of the community it represents."
It is a beautiful little book filled with bits of information of the history of Chemainus, from "Hyas Ahnkutte", before the white man, to "Pride and Prosperity" of the early 1960s. It includes photographs to emphasise certain points.

We sell copies of the latest publication in our gift shop.

05/29/2026

Friday May 29, 2026

My how time flies! Every once in a while, we remember something we have seen or know about and then we forget again.
The Westholm tree was a local celebrity that people either remember hearing abour or seeing. And then someone asked where is the stump now? It took a while and there it is - sitting outside the museum in Waterwheel park!

05/22/2026

Friday, May 22, 2026

SHIPS - using the waterways to move people, food, and lumber.
From sailing ships, to modern freighters, Chemainus has seen a lot!
here are some of our photos from our past.

05/21/2026

Hear yee, Hear yee!

Someone dropped off a lovely set of wood and steel skates at the Chemainus Tourist bureau, for our museum! We would love to know who dropped them off and if they have a story behind them!

Please contact the museum [email protected] with any information.
Thank you

05/16/2026

Hear yee, hear yee! A special notice: did you know that Monday May 18th, 2026 is International Museum Day?

This year the theme is “Museums Uniting a Divided World”.

Come visit our museum this weekend! We are installing a special Exhibition - "The None Came Back" exhibit.

World War II created a divided world of fear. One of those fears was the invasion of Japan. Japanese Canadians up and down the coast of Canada were moved away from the coast and put into camps. The Japanese Canadians that were taken from Chemainus never came back.

"1942
THE JAPANESE by Jack Howe
Until early 1942 there were many Japanese in Chemainus; businessmen, millworkers and fishermen. There were two Japanese enclaves in Chemainus. One of these was at the head of the Bay - this area is now used for lumber storage and the Company incinerator. This was the Okada settlement. Mr. Okada had the boom contract for the mill. At that time there was no Camp Boom.
In addition to Mr. Okada and his family there were a number of other residents. Among these were Sekot Ghigetomi, Fujimoto, and Fukamoto.
The other Japanese area was between Esplanade and Maple Streets and Oak Street and about 60 feet north of Brenton's parking lot. About half way between Oak Street and this boundary there was a road or alley running from Esplanade to Croft Street.
Among the businesses in this area were: I. Kawahara - Hauling - Taxi - and General Store. 2. Hakashima - General Store and Fish Shop. This store was on Maple Street next to the present Bargain Mart. 3. Tanina - (where the bakery is located) Store Slot Machines - Ping-Pong - Candy - To***co. Some of the families living in this area were Furuya, Kusuda and Otes.
The laundry was on the comer of Oak and Maple. Nakashimas' store was next to it. There were garden plots at comer of Oak and Croft and Kawahara's store was on the comer of Oak and Esplanade. There was an entrance off Oak Street to an enclosed area. There were in this part a barber shop, pool hall and bath house. Also some dwellings.
There were more dwellings on the north side of the alley from Esplanade to Croft Street. Between these homes and the northern boundary were the Judo Hall on Esplanade and the school on Croft Street. The Japanese children would attend the public school and after that would attend the Japanese school.
On the comer of Pine Street and Esplanade there was a very large two-storey home. This was owned by Shige Yoshida. His father, a long-time resident of Chemainus was well known in the mill as "Henry Ford." He was driver of a cut-down Ford Model T which was used to haul iron wheeled trailers loaded with lumber.
When the Japanese were moved away this house was sold by the government for $720.00 without the sanction of the owner. The above was told us by the former owner. Harry Higashi was head millwright in the mill. George Tanina was carpenter. The head oiler was Japanese.
It was a sad and heart-rending sight that day around Easter 1942.
A long line of Japanese, old people, young people, boys, girls, babes-in-arms slowly wending their way to the ship at the dock, waiting impatiently to take them away from their homes.
They were being taken to Vancouver, this they knew for certain but after Vancouver - a mystery. Where they would be sent or how they would be treated they did not know.
One can imagine their thoughts - What will happen to us, our homes, our gardens, our furniture, our cherished possessions? Would someone place a flower on the graves of their loved ones?
We in Chemainus know." from "Memories of the Chemainus Valley", pg 335/336
Come in and read all about it.

05/15/2026

Friday, May 15th 2026

TRAINS - they are the "iron horse" - moving logs, moving lumber, moving people.
Chemainus mill relied on trains until very recently.
here are some of our train picture collection

05/08/2026

Friday May 8th 2026

What are you doing for Mother's Day? A little tea? Gifting roses and chocolates?
A big dinner with cake to celebrate!
Happy Mother's Day this Sunday!

05/04/2026

Hear yee, hear yee!

The Chemainus Valley Historical Society is seeking a Museum Summer Student for an 8-week contract commencing June 28th. The Museum Summer Student will be trained in the public-facing and curatorial operations of the museum and will work closely with the Operations Manager and volunteers to create a positive and memorable visitor experience.
This position will provide an excellent opportunity to use and develop skills in communication, digital access, collaboration, time management, creativity and research. It will provide career-related training in the Heritage, Museum, tourism and retail fields.

Equal Opportunity Statement: The Chemainus Valley Historical Society is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team where everyone feels welcomed, respected and valued. We believe that a variety of perspectives makes us stronger. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, regardless of race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, or disability.

Anticipated Start Date: June 28, 2026 Duration: 8 wks. (280 hours)
Wage: $20.00/hr
Application Deadline: May 29, 2026

Email detailed Resumé to: [email protected]

Address

9799 Water Wheel Crescent
Chemainus, BC
V0R1K0

Opening Hours

Wednesday	10am - 3pm
Thursday	10am - 3pm
Friday	10am - 3pm
Saturday	10am - 3pm
Sunday	10am - 3pm

Telephone

12502462445

Website

http://www.chemainusvalleymuseum.ca/

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