Cumberland Museum and Archives

05/26/2026

Maria Dunn Live in Cumberland

The Cumberland Museum presents a very special concert as part of this year’s Miners Memorial Weekend Celebrations and 40th anniversary events.

Join us for an unforgettable evening with 2022 Juno Award-winning folk artist Maria Dunn, known for her powerful storytelling and songs that honour resilience, community, and the lives of “ordinary” people with extraordinary stories.

📅 Thursday, June 11, 2026
📍 Weird Church, Cumberland
⏱️ Doors 7:00 PM | Music 7:30 PM
🎟️ Tickets: https://square.link/u/686QSMiB

Maria’s music carries the heart of folk tradition—rich with meaning, history, and humanity. Don’t miss this intimate and inspiring live performance.

Presented by the Cumberland Museum and Archives.
Learn more about Miners Memorial Weekend events: www.minersmemorial.ca

05/17/2026

Cumberland Museum & Archives is closed May 18 for Victoria Day.

The Cumberland May Day parade will be travelling down Dunsmuir Ave on Monday at 10 am, much like this photo from the May Day parade in the 1920s. C270-056.

05/15/2026

May Day parade in 1988. Canadian Air Force marching down Dunsmuir in front of Legion. If you look really closely, you'll see gas was 49.7 cents at the time!

The Cumberland Museum & Archives is open by donation this weekend on Saturday May 16 and Sunday May 17.

We're closed on the stat holiday, Monday May 18th.

05/02/2026

If you didn’t get a chance to attend today, there’s another opportunity coming up on May 30! 🎶

The current exhibition at the Comox Valley Art Gallery by artist SD Holman explores themes of loss and grief. At the heart of this powerful exhibition is pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa and her live interpretations of Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach.

Rachel will be performing live again at 2pm on May 30—admission is barrier-free (no cost).

We’re also proud to share that both Rachel and SD Holman are featured in our new exhibition, Stolen Bases, here at the museum.

Don’t miss this moving experience.

The current exhibition at CVAG by artist SD Holman explores themes of loss and grief, and central to its programming is pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa's interpretations of Bach's Goldberg Variations.

Iwaasa will be here performing the piece live at 2pm this Saturday, May 2, as well as on May 30. Admission is barrier-free (no cost).

To learn more, read about CVAG in the news: https://www.comoxvalleyartgallery.com/cvag-in-the-news/.

05/01/2026

🌟We are so excited for another amazing community Bean Dinner! 🫘

Purchase your tickets ahead of time here:

https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML44GNBS5VH0J/checkout/WOBEBVOI27VABC2NN3ZVNVJQ

*🎟️Limited tickets will be available at the door.*

See you all tomorrow night !

We are looking forward to the Bean Dinner tomorrow night!
Join us and the Cumberland Museum and Archives for a community dinner in honour of International Workers’ Day!

Enjoy a classic working-class meal of cornbread, baked beans, and coleslaw, while celebrating Cumberland’s rich labor history and the ongoing fight for workers' rights.

FMI visit https://cumberlandmuseum.ca/activities/bean-dinner/

04/24/2026

🫘Bean Dinner 🫘- Where it Began...

"Food insecurity is nothing new. Before the “social safety net” people had to rely on each other for help in lean times.

During the “Big Strike” on Vancouver Island, families were evicted from mine company housing in Cumberland and left to camp in tents or hastily constructed shacks on Strikers Beach (between the current-day Millard Creek and Gartley Point in Royston) or at Comox Lake. The Campbell Brothers Store extended credit almost to the point of insolvency and allowed many mining families to camp on their property in Royston. Miners and their families lived rough and close to the bone on strike pay funded by the United Mine Workers of America for over two years, starting in August 1912. Beans were cheap and filling and eaten until everyone was heartily sick of the sight of them.

So who feeds the hungry when times are tough? " - Dawn Copeman
Blog Post Link : https://cumberlandmuseum.ca/oh-those-beans/

Cumberland Community School Society provides amazing support via FOOD SHARE. The Food Share provides regular deliveries of food hampers to Cumberland residents who are experiencing financial barriers to purchasing food. Established in 2000, the program is a community based initiative aimed at building a food-secure community. We believe that everyone, regardless of background, income, or other factors should have reliable access to nutritious food.

🍽️Join us on May 1, at BEAN DINNER to honour International Workers' Day in our effort to build a food-secure community.
Meal Tickets: https://square.link/u/LilUaUmB

Interested in helping to fund the Cumberland Food Share initiative?
https://ccssociety.org/food-share/



📍 Where: Cumberland Community School, Beaufort Gym
⏰ Time: 5:00pm to 7:00pm
🎟️ Proceeds support local workers & families through the Cumberland Community Schools Society Food Share and Cumberland Museum & Archives Education Programs.Bena DInner | Internation Food insecurity is nothing new. Before the “social safety net” people had to rely on each other for help in lean times.

04/21/2026

🍽️ Break (Corn)bread with us in Solidarity! 🍽️

Just a friendly reminder that our Bean Dinner in honour of International Workers’ Day is happening next Friday, May 1st, at the Cumberland Community School—and tickets are going quickly!

Join us for a warm, community-focused evening featuring a classic working-class meal of cornbread, baked beans, and coleslaw, while we celebrate Cumberland’s rich labour history and the ongoing fight for workers' rights.

📍 Cumberland Community School – Beaufort Gym
⏰ 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

🎟️ Important: Seating is limited, and only a small number of tickets will be available at the door. We strongly encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance to secure your spot!

Single Meal $10
Single Meal (In Support) $15
Family Meal $30
Family Meal (In Support) $50

🤝 We’re proud to be collaborating with the@cumberlandcss whose partnership helps make events like this possible—and whose programs support local families and community wellbeing. Students will also be showcasing their amazing artwork—come out and support their creativity!

We can’t wait to gather with you—don’t forget to grab your tickets ahead of time!
Tickets:
https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML44GNBS5VH0J/checkout/WOBEBVOI27VABC2NN3ZVNVJQ?fbclid=IwY2xjawRUuPBleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkSHZEejhra1p4Q3ZYeVJnc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrToYEmN29aTjXGTY5SrU9ZhG_J2dqruK8VsMBiCqKQtMidR8LfMHaaPe0yS_aem_Q3fEeoIGWh79OyQ6ljD4Aw

01/23/2026

🏮Happy Lunar New Year!🏮

Join us for a celebration of community, crafts, and fun at Cumberland Museum & Archives!

Crafts, Storytimes, Treats, and Prize Draws

📅Sunday, February 15
⏰10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍2680 Dunsmuir Ave, Cumberland

FREE & Everyone Welcome

Come celebrate with friends and family and make this Lunar New Year extra special!