MAPPING VANCOUVER ISLAND
The Mission: To learn about British Columbia's history through researching the origins of different place names. I hope that this research will serve as a gateway into exploring the broad sweep of our local history; will further familiarize you with the geography of Vancouver Island and its surrounding islands; and will encourage discussion about the meaning and power associated with naming and mapping.
The Procedure: I have listed almost 200 place names from Vancouver Island and the surrounding islands and waters below.
1) You should research the history associated with at least 40 of these places. It is fine to research as many names as you would like and it is also fine to choose a few place names that are not on my list. The completed project should take the form of a Powerpoint that combines a map or image with brief historical detail for each of your featured sites. I recommend that you have two slides for each place name, with the first containing the place name and an image or two with a caption. The second slide could then have three or four short bullet points that highlight the history of the name of the place. Note that the focus should be upon the history of the naming of the site, rather than just upon the general history of that place. This is meant to be a significant research exercise rather than a formal assignment. You do not need footnotes or a bibliography. However, your bullet points must be in your words and should represent your own synthesis of what you have learned. Don't hesitate to go deeper in describing those places that have particularly interesting name histories. An excellent place to find historical images is through the BC Archives Collections Search page. Type your place into the search box and you should find a number of different digitized photographs.
Here are some questions that you might ask for each of your sites. It is not important that you answer all of them.
What is the story for the name of this place?
Who named it and after whom was it named? When was it named?
What history is revealed through researching the origins of this name?
Are there controversies associated with the naming or alternative names sometimes used for this site?
2) When you have completed your slides, write a short reflections piece of 200+ words on the Mapping Vancouver Island assignment. What did you learn from this assignment? What was most interesting about your research and what was most surprising? What patterns and themes do you notice when all the place names you have studied as a group? What power and what significance rests with place names?
Include a short Assignment Wrapper as an addition to your reflections piece in which you answer the following questions:
a) How much time would you estimate that you spent on this assignment?
b) Briefly describe the process through which you completed this assignment, including a description of what resources and tools used.
c) Did you experience any difficulties with this assignment and, if so, what were these?
d) What self-evaluation would you offer?
Resources:
This assignment is designed with internet research in mind without any expectation that you consult any of the books below. Ideally, you'll check at least three or four web-site for each place name. Be creative with your research. For example, you may want to use as search terms not just the name of the place but also for associated information as well. Use of Artificial Intelligence, including very extensive use of AI, is fully appropriate for this assignment. But if you do use AI, I expect you to use it as a research tool rather than as a substitute for your own writing or thinking. As with internet searches, you may want to follow up your initial AI enquiry with more refined questions as you learn more about your topics.
Although you are not required to take notes, I recommend doing that, and then handing in your notes as part of your submission. I will add those to your Homework Portfolio.
There are also three highly relevant books that could be useful sources for this project:
Scott, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names: A Complete Reference to Coastal British Columbia. Madeira Park: Harbour Publishing, 2009. (Available as a reference book on the Comox Valley Campus but also available on-line through the NIC Library)
Akrigg, G. P. V. and Helen B. 1001 British Columbia Place Names. Vancouver: Discovery, 1970. (Available in the main stacks of the Comox Valley Campus)
Walbran, John T. British Columbia Coast Names. Vancouver: Douglas and McIntyre, 1971. (Available in the main stacks of the Comox Valley Campus)
Place Names
Cities, Towns And Villages
Ahouset
Alert Bay
Bamfield
Blubber Bay, Texada Island
Bowser
Brentwood Bay
Campbell River
Chemainus
Coal Harbour
Colwood
Comox
Coombs
Courtenay
Cowichan Bay
Crofton
Cumberland
Duncan
Friendly Cove
Gold River
Hesquiat
Kyoquot
Ladysmith
Langford
Lantzville
Mamaliliculla
Manson's Landing
Merville
Nanaimo
Nanoose Bay
Paldi
Port Alice
Port Hardy
Port McNeill
Qualicum
Quathiaski Cove
Royston
Sayward
Sointula
Tahsis
Telegraph Cove
Tofino
Uclulet
Union Bay
Victoria
Wellington
Whaletown (Cortes Island)
Youbou
Yuqout
Zeballos
Islands
Amelia Island, B.C.
Ballenas Island
Bligh Island
Cormorant Island
Cortes Island
D'Arcy Island
Denman Island
Deserters Island
Dunsmuir Islands
Flores Island
Gabriola Island
Galiano Island
Helmcken Island
Hornby Island
Lasqueti Island
Lennard Island
Lindbergh Island
Marina Island
Mayne Island
Meares Island
Mitlenatch Island
Newcastle Island
Nootka Island
Pender Island
Penelakut Island
Quadra Island
Saturna Island
Sonora Island
Stubbs Island
Texada Island
Thetis Island
Tonquin Island
Valdes Island
Vancouver Island
Vargas Island
Wickanninish Island
Fresh Water
Adam River and Eve River
Amor De Cosmos Creek
Browns River
Buttle Lake
Cameron Lake
Century Sam Lake
Chase River
Lake Cowichan
Cruickshank River
Goldstreem River
Horne Lake
Kennedy Lake
Leech River
McCreight Lake
Puntledge River
Quinsam Lake
Sproat Lake
Stamp River
Suquash Creek
Salt Water
Active Pass
Alberni Canal
Barkley Sound
Baynes Sound
Beaver Harbour
Browns River
Cadboro Bay
Clayoquot Sound
Desolation Sound
Emily Carr Inlet
Florencia Bay
Fulford Harbour
Ganges Harbour
Gowlland Harbour
Strait of Georgia
Haro Strait
Honeymoon Bay
James Bay (Victoria)
Johnstone Strait
Strait of Juan de Fuca
Kye Bay
La Perouse Bank
Malaspina Strait
Miners Bay
Patricia Bay
Poison Cove
Resolution Cove
Robson Bight
Ross Bay (Victoria)
Swartz Bay (Victoria)
Templar Channel
Tribune Bay
Mountains
Mount Arrowsmith
Beaufort Range
Mount Benson
Mount Colnett
Mount Douglas (Victoria)
Mount Finlayson (Victoria)
Mount Ginger Goodwin
Mount Haig-Brown
Golden Hinde
Malahat Ridge
Mount McKelvie
Nikkei Mountain
Mount Richards
Mount Tolmie (Victoria)
Mount Washington
Waterloo Mountain
Whymper Mountain
Other Geographic Features
Albert Head (Victoria Area)
Amphitrite Point
Beacon Hill (Victoria)
Botanical Beach
Chesterman Beach
China Beach
Clover Point (Victoria)
Duke Point
Ellice Point (Victoria)
Estevan Point
Frances Point
Gallows Point (Protection Island)
Gonzales Point (Victoria)
Jeune Landing
Cape Lazo
Miracle Beach
Cape Mudge
Robb Bluff (Comox)
Royal Roads (Victoria)
Cape Scott
Cape Sutil
Miscellaneous
Forbidden Plateau
Fort Rupert
Happy Valley (Metchosin)
MacMillan Park
Strathcona Park