Erin Haluschak
Record staff
Lewis Bartholomew is on the move.
He, along with hundreds of pieces of his collection and displays, are moving across the hallway of the Comox Centre Mall, readying for the official re-launch of the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial.
“It’s almost twice the space (as the old location) and it’s right across the way - it’s much more visible,” said Bartholomew, the museum’s founder and executive director.
“It will help us expand the gift shop area, and it won’t be so tight. The other space worked really well for one, two, three people, but when we had large groups it becomes a bottle neck. With the new space, there’s one way in, and one way out.”
He said display units will now be used in the space as islands for people to walk around, and the area will be more flexible for large groups or social gatherings.
Bartholomew added because the space now faces the water, he invites people to stop off in the “sunny library to see the glacier; it has one of the nicest views in Comox.”
In the old space, he said he could accommodate up to 40 people at a time, and admitted it was difficult to navigate.
Now, he noted, the space can easily fit 60 people and it will be easy to view all of the displays.
The re-launch is set for Sept. 5 at 1 p.m., with a 30-minute concert by Roger Helfrick before the ribbon cutting ceremony, There is no admission on the day, but there will be an admission fee of $2 adults/$1 children from Sept. 7 onwards.
For more information, visit alberniproject.org or call 250-334-6555.