Concerning Place Names

Many places mentioned in this book are known by, or have been known by, more than one name. A selective list of these follows. The official names, listed on the left, are taken from current marine charts, or the Gazetteer of British Columbia.

* Name still in use on 1921 census.

Throughout the book we have generally chosen to use place names as given in the Gazetteer of British Columbia. For this reason, First Nations villages appear as “Hesquiat” or “Ahousat,” without the “aht” ending that is increasingly used. However, we use the “aht” ending (meaning “people of”) in the names of the aboriginal peoples of Clay-oquot Sound.

We do not attempt to provide all of the names traditionally used by First Nations, nor all the names used by the Japanese who lived on the coast prior to World War II.

Place names around the world reflect choices made in previous generations, often for political reasons. Official West Coast place names repeatedly honour explorers, traders, naval vessels, missionaries, and settlers. Writing for the Daily Victoria Gazette in 1858, William Banfield questioned the names colonial authorities were giving to places on Vancouver Island’s west coast. “Good taste would lead us at the present day to adopt the Indian names,” he wrote, “in most instances…much prettier, many of them having a natural beauty of sound…Great Britain’s Colonies have enough Royal names, noble names, and titles of our grandfathers and grandmothers.” His comments went unheed-ed. But as time passes, place names in Clayoquot Sound, and all over British Columbia, remain subject to change. In a hundred years, a list of place names in this area could look very different.