Canada’s Reach for the Stars Comes to the Cowichan Valley
The Mill Bay-Malahat Historical Society is proud to announce our upcoming Tea and Tales event featuring a special screening of the award-winning documentary, Northern Star. Join us on Saturday, June 20, 2026, as we welcome acclaimed filmmaker Nick Versteeg to share the incredible legacy of John Stanley Plaskett.
Our Tea and Tales afternoon offers more than just a movie. Guests will enjoy a curated presentation, light refreshments, and an engaging Q&A session with filmmaker Nick Versteeg following the screening.
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When: Saturday, June 20, 2026
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Where: Cobble Hill Hall (3550 Watson Ave, Cobble Hill)
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Time: Doors open at 1:00 PM | Presentation starts at 2:00 PM
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Features: Documentary screening, Refreshments, and Q&A.
Don’t miss this opportunity for a “60-Minute Escape” into the cosmos. For more info or to inquire about tickets, please email us at info@millbaymalahathistory.com or phone us at 250 743 0144 or 250 701 2036
Tragedy, Intrigue, Love, and Laughter—Local Legends Take the Stage
This July, Vancouver Island’s past comes alive in a way you’ve never seen before.
The Mill Bay-Malahat Historical Society is thrilled to announce the upcoming theatrical production of Dreamers & Schemers. This unique “60-Minute Escape” into our local heritage features three incredible true stories of the visionaries, rogues, and heroes who shaped the history of the Cowichan Valley and beyond.
Three Legends, One Stage
The production brings three larger-than-life historical figures back to life:
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The Heroine: Meet Minnie Paterson, the brave wife of the Cape Beale lighthouse keeper. Relive her harrowing, heroic midnight trek through the rugged West Coast wilderness to single-handedly rescue the crew of a sinking ship.
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The Showman: Step right up for Painless Parker! Discover the uproarious true story of the world’s most eccentric dentist. From his “Dental Circus” featuring brass bands and elephants to his great escape to Vancouver Island, Parker’s story is a masterclass in audacity.
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The Rogue: Revisit the “Malahat Mania” of Major James Lennox MacFarlane. The man they called “crazy as a loon” defied bureaucrats to build the Malahat Drive we use today—back when the route had no guardrails and was considered an impossible dream.
A Travelling Historical Experience
We are taking these stories on the road! To ensure the whole community can experience this production, we have scheduled 11 performances throughout July at beloved local venues, including:
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Mill Bay
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Shawnigan Lake
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Cobble Hill
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Cowichan Station
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Duncan
Performance Dates
The curtain rises on July 3, 2026, and the tour runs through July 26, 2026. Whether you are a long-time resident or a newcomer to the Island, these stories will make you see your backyard in a whole new light.
Tickets Coming Soon!
We know the community is eager to secure their seats for this summer highlight. A direct link for ticket sales will be available on this page very soon. In the meantime, you can get a “sneak peek” at the artifacts and archival notes that inspired these stories by visiting the Heritage Museum on Sundays from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM or for more information email info@millbaymalahathistory.com.
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM
Want to Help Make History Come Alive? Please join us in our efforts to preserve and celebrate the history of our local community. Do so while meeting new people and having some fun!
Contact Bamberton Historical Society, Cobble Hill Historical Society or Mill Bay/Malahat Historical Society.
The Heritage Museum’s ‘Times They Are A-Changing Exhibit’ is an opportunity to relive your memories.
See the changes that time has created in our lives.
Remember Rock and Roll, The 50’s Diner, a rotary phone, the school strap and don’t forget the ‘Out House’. Play the ‘GUESS THE OBJECT GAME’, it’s fun for the whole family.
When open, you can see all this and more from 11am to 3pm on Sundays at the Heritage Museum, 2851 Church Way, in Mill Bay.
Heritage Museum
The Heritage Museum is open for the season.
Come visit us every Sunday from 11am – 3pm.
LATEST NEWS
Now open for the summer season.
Mr. Sheppard built a mill …
Mr. Sheppard built a mill in 1859/60. He sold it to Mr. Sayward in 1861 and it was dismantled in...
The first road from Victoria …
The first road from Victoria was cleared in 1863 from Sooke, around Shawnigan lake and around the...
NEWSLETTER
Hello Everyone
I’m Maureen Alexander with the Mill Bay/Malahat Historical Society and I want to welcome you to the fun History Trivia Quiz called ‘I NEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT’.
We are going to test your history knowledge with three questions that might make you say “I never would have guessed that’.
HELPFUL LINKS
Bamberton Historical Society
The Bamberton archives were started in July of 2005. Since that time hundreds of pieces of information have been collected in the form of …
BC Forest Discovery Centre Museum
British Columbia Museums Association
Chemainus Valley Museum
Cowichan Valley Museum
The Cobble Hill Historical Society
- To maintain an active historical society in Cobble Hill
- To collect the history of the Cobble Hill area
- To provide a web site that will function as both an archive and a virtual museum
- To maintain an historical wall that depicts people, places and events from South Cowichan history
- To provide educational outreach to our community
THE HERITAGE MUSEUM
The Bamberton, Cobble Hill, and Mill Bay Malahat Historical Societies formed the Heritage Museum Partnership in early 2017 and worked toward creating a museum from the small white church (formerly Mill Bay United) in Mill Bay. The building and its grounds, complete with a cemetery on the north and south sides, became a South Cowichan Park in 2007, after being donated by the United Church. To bring the property to a standard for public use, the Cowichan Valley Regional District carried out major repairs and upgrades.
THE MILL BAY COMMUNITY LEAGUE
The Maritime Museum of BC
Victoria Historical Society
Victoria Genealogical Society
The Victoria Genealogical Society (VGS) was established in 1978. Located in Victoria BC Canada. To support and promote family history research in Victoria, across Canada and around the world.
Shawnigan Lake Museum
Want to Help Make History Come Alive?
Please join us in our efforts to preserve and celebrate the history of our local community. Do so while meeting new people and having some fun!
Annual membership fee is $5 per person.
Please indicate your areas of interest. Historic Theatre, Artifact Acquisition, Tour Historic Sites, Fund Raising, Catalogue Artifacts, Display/ Design, Promotion/ Publicity, Interview Elders, Museum Docent, Special Events, Other …
Membership Form MILL BAY / MALAHAT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Call us to discuss ways you can preserve the heritage of your family and our community.
250-743-0144
We are a registered charity and can issue tax receipts for donations.
Annual membership fee is $5 per person.
If you would like to include society membership with your donation, please put the word Membership in the comments box on the donations page.
The membership form PDF and money can be dropped off at the Mill Bay Paint and Hardware store in the Mill Bay Mall
or mailed to the
MBMHS
PO Box #263
2720 Mill Bay RD. V0R2P1
Northbound on Hwy. 1:
Drive past Mill Bay Centre and past the turn-off to Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd. Turn right at the next signal onto Kilmalu Rd. and then immediately right again onto Church Way. The museum is at the end of Church Way.
Southbound on Hwy. 1:
Drive past Hutchinson Rd. and when you get to the Laughing Llama store before the next signal, get in the left turn lane. Turn left onto Kilmalu Rd. and immediately right onto Church Way. Park at the end of Church Way.
MILL BAY / MALAHAT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Museum
2851 Church Way, Mill Bay, BC V0R 2P2
Call Us
250-743-0144