After Fulton Alexander McKirdy (1874-1960), an early settler in the Valemount area

Association with Mount Fryatt.

Adopted in 1925 as labelled on BC-Alberta Boundary sheets 38 & 39. In lieu of original paperwork this name was reconfirmed 16 July 1963. May have previously been labeled as Wapumoon Lake.

A descriptive name given by Samuel Prescott Fay [1884–1971] in 1914, spelled by him “Wapumoon.”

“Wapumun” is recorded as being a Cree word interpreted as “mirror” or “reflection.”

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.

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

Possibly named by the Alberta-British Columbia Boundary Commission. In reference to crèche (“manger” in French) or a personal name?

Origin of the name unknown.