Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre
The Mission of the Cowichan Wooden Boat Society is to preserve for present and future generations the Maritime Heritage and Culture of Wooden Boats.
The Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre is an active community-based maritime museum and is operated by the Cowichan Wooden Boat Society, a non-profit organization founded to preserve, exhibit and demonstrate the Maritime heritage and culture of wooden boats, especially as experienced on Canada’s West Coast.
The Society was originally conceived in the 1970s as a wooden boat building centre but has expanded its role to become a maritime centre, a museum and a wooden boat workshop. In addition to the exhibits and museum the Centre holds wooden boat building classes for adults and children in its superbly equipped workshop. The Society also operates an historic marine ways for the hauling and cleaning of boats and maintains a small fleet of traditional small craft.
The Cowichan Wooden Boat Society has as its purposes:
- Providing a facility and equipment for wooden boat building, restoration and maintenance;
- Offering programs, workshops and training in boat building, restoration and maintenance;
- Involving members and volunteers in the activities of the society;
- Restoring and displaying wooden boats;
- Increasing resident and visitor awareness and appreciation of our wooden boat heritage;
- Creating interpretive and interactive displays that support our marine heritage;
- Maintaining a Maritime Museum and Library;
- Encouraging the participation of families and young people;
- Fundraising to support the purposes of the CWBS;
- Engaging in activities that support the continued work for the CWBS;
- Participating in community functions, activities, initiatives and events.
