Origin of the name unknown.

William Olexiuk

The addition to the McBride and District Hospital, built in1988, was named after William Olexiuk [1918–1988], who was born at Vilna, Alberta, to Sam and Anne Olexiuk of the Ukraine. In 1934, Olexiuk started working in logging camps in Alberta. In 1940, he married Helen Semeluk of Vilna. In 1945, Bill and Helen moved to Valemont, where he worked in the logging and hauling businesses. He was a member of the McBride and District Hospital Board since its formation in 1954. Olexiuk served terms as president of the Valemount Red Cross and the Valemount Community Association. He was active in the Yellowhead Highway Association in the 1950s.

Location approximate. Origin of the name unknown.

The BC Geographical Names office says the name was “adopted in 1925 as labelled on BC map 3H, 1919.” However, Pre-emptor’s map Tête Jaune 3H 1919 does not appear to include this name.

“Whiteshield Mountain” does appear on Boundary Commission Sheet 33. The Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission surveyed the area in 1923.

Origin of the name unknown.

“Mt. Whitehorn is a very striking feature,” wrote Arthur Oliver Wheeler [1860–1945], “owing to the precipitous rock ramparts, like mighty walls, that stretch out from it to the Grand Fork Valley. It is surrounded by glaciers, but it is not very white and does not convey the impression of a horn.”

This sharp conical peak was referred to by Arthur Philomen Coleman [1852–1939] in 1907 or 1908 as “The White Horn.” Elizabeth Parker [1856–1944] says it is so called “from some twoscore waterfalls shining like silver or foaming white down vertical purple cliffs on either side.” It was first climbed by Conrad Kain [1883–1934] in 1911.

This mountain was a camera station during the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission survey in 1921.

“Whiskey Curve is west of Valemount and is called that because a car of whiskey was wrecked on this curve,” according to a local history book. “Most of the whiskey disappeared before it could be cleaned up.”

“The train wreck in Whiskey Fill occurred, I believe, in 1924,” according to one correspondent. “It is said there is still the possibility of finding a bottle of well-aged Scotch there in the muskeg, as many were hidden at the time.”

However, the section foreman on the Canadian National Railway at the time recalls that the wreck was in April 1933. (See comment below).

Whirlpool Pass located at the head of Middle Whirlpool River. The head of the Whirlpool River is at Athabasca Pass.

Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission surveyor Arthur Oliver Wheeler [1860–1945] wrote in 1924:

As far as is known by the boundary survey, Whirlpool Pass has no history. The approach from the Alberta side, is from the main Whirlpool River valley. With regard to the name, that of Whirlpool Pass may not be very appropriate, but it has been used for lack of a better one. Perhaps, more appropriately, Athabasca Pass summit should be known by the name of Whirlpool Pass, but the former name was given in the early days of the fur trade — probably due to the fact that the Athabasca River was then the outstanding feature of this main pass over the Great Divide. It has become historical and cannot now be changed. As a substitute the name Whirlpool Pass was given by the Survey, with reference to its approach up the Main and Middle Whirlpool Valleys.