Author Archives: Swany

Mount Ruth

British Columbia. Mount
E side of Kakwa Lake
54.0061 N 120.0986 W — Map 093I01 — GoogleGeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1925
Official in BCTopo map from Canadian Geographical Names

Named by George D. Kilpatrick, minister of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Ottawa from 1920 to 1925, while climbing in this area in 1923, after his wife Ruth. (30 November 1923 letter from Kilpatrick to Geographic Board; Ottawa file OBF 0841, 93I.)

The well-established local name was Elliot Mountain or Mount Elliot, predating 1923 Kilpatrick’s holiday in this vicinity. Mount Elliot is identified in the 1930 BC Gazetteer.

References:

Cecilia Creek

British Columbia. Creek: Smoky River drainage
Flows NW into Kakwa River NE of Kakwa Lake
54.0753 N 120.0858 W — Map 093I01 — GoogleGeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1925
Official in BCCanada

The lake is a very beautiful one, of a rich deep blue colour, some two miles in length by half a mile wide. Situated in a pocket of the surrounding heights, it is so closely encircled that it is very nearly reached before being seen. In consequence it is known locally as “Surprise” Lake. The name, Cecilia Lake, was given by Mr. Lambart and as there are a number of other Surprise Lakes, it has been adopted.

The upper valley of the lake is fairly open with scattered bodies of spruce and balsam of small size. The slopes encircling the basin of the lake are densely forested. The outlet, Cecilia Creek, flows in a broad valley showing much open meadowland along the bottom and densely forested side slopes. It has a northwesterly course of some nine miles to its junction with the Kakwa River. The 120th meridian passes within an eighth of a mile of the most northerly extremity of the lake.

— Wheeler

References:

  • Cautley, Richard William [1873–1953], and Wheeler, Arthur Oliver [1860–1945]. Report of the Commission Appointed to Delimit the Boundary between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Parts IIIA & IIIB, 1918 to 1924. From Yellowhead Pass Northerly. Ottawa: Office of the Surveyor General, 1925. Whyte Museum
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Copton Creek

Alberta. Creek: Smoky River drainage
Flows N into Kakwa River
54.2681 N 119.2728 W — Map 083L06 — GoogleGeoHack
Earliest known reference to this name is 1917 (Jobe)
Name officially adopted in 1950
Official in Canada

Origin of the name unknown. Mary Lenore Jobe Akeley [1878–1966] mentions Copton Creek in the report on a 1917 winter journey.

References:

  • Jobe Akeley, Mary Lenore [1878–1966]. “A winter journey to Mt. Sir Alexander and the Wapiti.” Canadian Alpine Journal, Vol. 9 (1918):58-65

Buchanan Creek

British Columbia. Creek: Fraser River drainage
Flows SW into McGregor River, N of McBride
53.8956 N 120.2978 W — Map 093H16 — GoogleGeoHack
Name officially adopted in 1965
Official in BCCanada

Origin of the name unknown. There was a Robert Buchanan who led an group of prospectors from Barkerville to the Fraser River via Goat River in 1886.

References:

  • Wright, Richard. “Tales of a trail [Goat River].” BC Outdoors, (1985)
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