Salt Spring Place Names

Introduction

The Aboriginal people had several names for Salt Spring Island. The Cowichan called it Klaathem, which in their language means “salt” (Margaret Shaw Walter, Early Days Among the Gulf Islands of British Columbia). The Saanich called it ‚U;N, which means “each end,” referring to mountains at each end of the island (Dave Elliott Sr., Saltwater People). Variations of this information have been passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation of Coast Salish people.

The first written mention of Salt Spring Island appeared in a letter written by Governor James Douglas in 1853, a year after he explored the east coast of Vancouver Island by canoe. Douglas believed that his discovery of salt springs on the island “would be of the greatest importance and become a wealth to the country” (Douglas to Barclay, May 16, 1853, ms., Archives of BC). His report was published with a map of the area, on which Salt Spring is labelled Chuan. This name, which means “facing the sea,” had been given to Mt. Tuam on the south end of the island by the Cowichan. Over time, Chuan became Tuan and eventually Tuam, which it remains today. Meanwhile, the salt springs were sufficiently intriguing for Captain Walter Colquhoun Grant (in 1849 the first settler to purchase land on Vancouver Island) to label the island Saltspring Island on a map included in his 1856 “Description of Vancouver Island.”

Not to be outdone by Douglas, Captain George Henry Richards, who charted much of the northwest coast between 1857 and 1863, also attempted to impose a name on the island, renaming it Admiral Island in honour of Rear Admiral Robert Lambert Baynes, commander-in-chief of the Pacific station at Esquimalt between 1857 and 1860. Post-Richards maps referred to the island as Admiral Island and to Ganges Harbour as Admiralty Bay.

In the end, however, the salt springs captured the popular imagination, and the island became known locally as Salt Spring (two words) Island, in spite of Grant’s 1856 one-word spelling. Saltspring became the island’s official name when it was adopted by the Geographic Board of Canada in 1905, although Canada Post—with the support of many residents—still prefers it spelled as two words.

One can make a good case for the idea that the seeds of Salt Spring islanders’ contentious natures were planted with the debate over the island’s name. To this day, islanders fiercely argue about whether the name should be spelled as two words or one, with the Ministry of Highways taking the good Canadian middle ground by placing one sign reading “Salt Spring Way” on the west side of the Fulford-Ganges Road and another sign reading “Saltspring Way” on the east side of the road.

Names continue to plague the well-intentioned chronicler of Salt Spring history. Some problems are relatively minor—Walker Hook or Walker’s Hook, Maxwell Lake or Lake Maxwell. Others bring out the quarrelsomeness of those in the know. We’re told, for example, that Duck Bay is a corruption of Dock Bay and that Stowell Lake developed from Mr. Stowe’s name and the addition of two of the l’s that maps use to designate the word “lake”—Stowe L. became Stowel L., which then became Stowell L. Early references to Cusheon (both the lake and the road) used variant spellings such as Cushion or Cuicheon.

Salt Spring’s community names can also be confusing. For example, in the past, Vesuvius and Central were often used to refer to the same geographic area. Similarly, the Burgoyne (or Fulford) Valley extends from Fulford Harbour to Burgoyne Bay. Perhaps we should call it the Fulford-Burgoyne Valley.

Another problem with names is that they sometimes change. For example, Ford Lake (named after Frederick Foord) started as Ford’s but was changed first to Mollet’s and then to Price’s Lake before returning to its current name. Stowell Lake was first Fisher’s and then Emsley’s. Roberts Lake was once Allen’s. Blackburn Lake was first Conery’s and then Brown’s. Weston Lake was once Olsen’s and later Stewart’s. Maxwell Lake was once deMaines’. Tripp Road was once Mouat’s. And Upper Ganges Road was once Bullock’s. If you’re still following, you might like to know that Bruce Peak was once the summit of Musgrave Mountain and Baynes Peak is still the top of Mount Maxwell.

Even the names of individuals can be problematic. In the past, some people had their names changed for them—with or without their approval—perhaps because an immigration officer preferred an Anglicized name or thought that the new arrival would assimilate more easily with a simpler name. For example, Joseph King came to Salt Spring in the 1880s from Smyrna (now Izmir), Turkey, with another name, possibly Basilio (information courtesy of Jean Barman), which was changed to the straightforward King. John Stevens, the husband of King’s stepdaughter, had the original Greek name Yjanaris, according to his gravestone (information courtesy of Joan Ingram).

Sometimes our sources themselves have caused the confusion. For example, many writers have told the story of Salt Spring’s “squire,” Henry Wright Bullock whose gravestone clearly identifies the man as Harry Wright Bullock. Then there’s the relatively minor confusion when individuals change the spelling of their names—like William Patterson, who thought that his name looked better with two t’s (the English spelling) rather than the original Scottish Paterson.

This directory contains two lists: the first contains most but not all Salt Spring street names, since new names are continually being created for new streets; the second contains general geographical features.

Many of the geographical features around Salt Spring have been named after people or ships from the Spanish or British Navy. For example, Ganges is named after H.M.S. Ganges, the flagship (1857–60) of Rear Admiral Robert L. Baynes, whose name is remembered in Baynes Peak at the top of Mt. Maxwell. Similarly, Fulford Harbour is named after Captain John Fulford, the master of the H.M.S. Ganges, or Porlier Pass, which was named by the Spanish captain Jose M. Narvaez. Most of these names are explained in other references, most notably in British Columbia Coast Names: Their Origin and History by Captain John T. Walbran (Douglas & McIntyre, 1971), which was first published in 1909. Please try sources like Walbran for any names not included in the second list of geographical names included here.

Readers are encouraged to send additions and corrections to the Archives website so that this directory can be continually improved and expanded.

Street Names

Most of the following names are road names on Salt Spring Island. While some names such as Arbutus Place and Wildwood Crescent are merely descriptive, most others commemorate some islander who lived nearby or developed the land. Often a developer wanted to remember someone in his or her family (e.g., Heidi Place), perhaps even a favourite pet. Sometimes the names are thematic, such as the plethora of waterbirds (e.g., Canvasback, Cormorant, Tern, Teal, Murrelet, Sandpiper, Oystercatcher) in Channel Ridge, or the maritime names in Maracaibo (e.g., Mariners Way, Fishermans Lane, Kingfisher Lane). In some cases, background information was not available; any additional information would be welcome.

Acheson Road Miles and Hannah Acheson lived in a large house, which is still called Acheson House today. Acheson started a Gestetner-style newspaper called the Spotlight. Miles Acheson had been a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II.

Acland Road In 1947, Bevil and Marjorie Acland opened Acland’s Resort on Baker Road in a home originally built by Ernest Crofton. The resort’s names was changed to the Booth Bay Resort in 1960, when it was bought by Thomas and Frances Portlock.

Agar Road Named after a Major Agar who lived at the end of the road.

Akerman Road Joseph Akerman came to Salt Spring in 1862 and farmed in the Burgoyne-Fulford Valley. His wife, Martha Clay, arrived in Victoria on a bride ship from England in 1863 and agreed to become his wife. The couple raised eight children, and many of their descendants continue to live on Salt Spring.

Alders Avenue Captain Victor and Winifred Best lived on a property called The Alders.

Aldous Road Aldous was an early surveyor on the island.

Amblewood Drive descriptive name

Andrew Place Andrew Stevens, who owned land nearby, was the son of John N. Stevens (1858–1939), who came to Salt Spring in 1885. Originally Greek (his original name was Yjanaris), Stevens was given his name on his arrival by an immigration official.

Anna Drive The name of developer Chris Gossett’s nanny.

Arbutus Place descriptive name

Arbutus Road descriptive name

Arletta Place

Armand Way Named after Joseph Armand Lucien Quesnel.

Arnell Way Peter Arnell was a surveyor who died accidentally on Galiano Island.

Atkins Road H. Atkins arrived in 1907. His sister married Thomas Frank Speed, and their farm stretched along Atkins Road from Rainbow Road to Lower Ganges Road.

Baker Road Dr. Gerald Ramsay “Paddy” Baker lived on Salt Spring from 1897 to 1908 in Percy Browne’s house near Booth Canal. He left the island in 1904 for the Yukon gold fields and returned for only a brief period.

Barker’s Place Possibly named after Jake Barker, an employee of the BC Telephone Company. Jake was a tulip grower of some note. The Barkers lived on the corner of Fulford-Ganges Road and Beddis Road. They owned the White Elephant Cafe in the 1960's .

Bayridge Place descriptive name

Bayview Road descriptive name

Beachside Drive descriptive name

Beaver Point Road The Beaver was a Hudson’s Bay Company paddle steamer used for surveying in the Strait of Georgia from 1863 to 1867. It was the first steam vessel on the west coast. It is thought that the Beaver went on the rocks at Beaver Point.

Becky Way Becky Acheson, whose father, Chris, was involved in the subdivision.

Beddis Road Samuel (1850–93) and Emily Beddis arrived on Salt Spring in 1884.

Belvedere Drive descriptive name

Benton Place

Betsy Lane Named after Betty Greer (husband Tom).

Biggely Road The name of developer Chris Gossett’s Jack Russell spaniel.

Bittancourt Road Estalon José Bittancourt (1845–1917) and his brother Manoel Antoine Bittancourt arrived on the island in1860. This road is probably named after Manoel’s son, Abraham Reid Bittancourt, who ran a store on Ganges Hill from 1900 until it was purchased by Mouat’s in 1907.

Blackburn Road Alan Blackburn arrived in 1907 and bought the Conery farm on Blackburn Road. In 1911, Blackburn brought the first automobile to Salt Spring.

Blain Road Walter Blain owned a dairy farm, which he bought from the King brothers (see Kings Lane).

Bonnet Road Named afer Laura Ruth (née Bonnet) Cudmore, long-time islander Gordon Cudmore’s wife.

Booth Road John Patton Booth (1838–1902) arrived on Salt Spring in 1859 and farmed in this area. He was elected as a member of the BC legislature in 1871 and again in 1890, and was Speaker of the legislature at the time of his death.

Bradbury Road Brian Bradbury from Victoria subdivided land in this area.

Bradley Road Possibly named after developer Hart Bradley, who with Pete Frattinger was developing the Scott Point area in the mid-1960s.

Bridgman Road Weaver Bridgman was a Victoria realtor who bought the Beaver Point property belonging to Theodore Trage in 1902.

Brinkworthy Road descriptive name

Broadwell Road Joel and Mary Amanda Broadwell settled on Salt Spring in 1882.

Brookwood Road descriptive name

Bullock Creek Road Harry Bullock moved to Salt Spring from Bristol, England, in 1892 and established a large farm estate on Upper Ganges Road. Bullock wanted people to think of him as the “squire of Salt Spring.”

Bulman Road William Bulman bought 2,455 acres from Cusheon Lake to Cusheon Cove in 1909 and built a large sawmill at the cove.

Burgoyne Bay Road Commander Hugh Talbot Burgoyne (1833–70) commanded the

H.M.S. Ganges in 1857.

Byron Road Jessie and Elizabeth Byron and their five sons moved to the island from Saskatchewan in 1934.

Canal Road This road leads to Booth Canal.

Canvasback Road descriptive name

Caprice Heights descriptive name

Carlin Road Howard Carlin was a school bus driver and later worked as an insurance agent from his home. Howard’s wife, Molly, was an Akerman.

Castillou Way Henry Castillou was a BC judge who holidayed on Salt Spring.

Castle Cross Road From the crossroads of Castle Cross and Salt Spring Way, you have a good view of Castle (First Sister) Island. See also Channel Islands.

Cedar Lane descriptive name

Central Avenue Central was originally going to be the road to the prospective ferry at Long Harbour. However, when the road to the terminal was eventually built, it was decided to use the current Long Harbour route instead. This involved blasting a great deal of rock to straighten the new road.

Channel Ridge Dr. The ridge offers views over Trincomali Channel.

Charlesworth Road Named after Elsie (Price) and Tom Charlesworth, who died in 1918 during World War I.

Chock Road Named by logger-developer Gordon Cudmore, possibly after the wedge used by loggers.

Chu-An Drive Indian name for Salt Spring (“facing the sea”).

Churchill Road A.N.H. Churchill settled here. He was killed during World War I.

Clarinda Road Named after Constance Clarinda Goodall. See also Goodall Road.

Clipper Road descriptive name

Collins Road John T. Collins settled on the east side of St. Mary Lake in 1895.

Corbett Road Major Frank H. Corbett, M.C. was killed in action in World War I. His widow married Desmond Crofton.

Cormorant Crescent descriptive name

Cottonwood Road descriptive name

Cranberry Road A cranberry marsh in this area was drained before 1900.

Crane Road Possibly named after Jacob Crook Crane, a councilor with the early Municipality of Salt Spring (1872–1882).

Creekside Drive Cusheon Creek flows here.

Crofton Road Named after Fred Crofton who came to the island in 1898 with his brothers Frank and Ernest.

Cross Road

Cudmore Heights Gordon Cudmore, whose family settled on Salt Spring in 1927, subdivided a large acreage off Charlesworth Road.

Cusheon Lake Road John Ducie Cusheon came to Salt Spring in 1860, but left soon after when the government refused to let him pre-empt 1,000 acres of land.

Cusheon Place See above.

David Crescent David Bruce Barnes is the son of Bruce and Jean Barnes who subdivided this area. David’s sister is Leslee Quesnel.

Dean Road Rev. George W. Dean was a Methodist minister, c. 1914.

Deer Park Road descriptive name

Delia Crescent Named after Annie Adelia Sandford Eyres, the grandmother of Leslee Barnes Quesnel, whose father developed the land here.

Dellcliffe Road possibly a descriptive name

Demetri Way Demetri Stevens is the son of Peter Stevens, the youngest son of John Stevens (1858–1939), whose original name was Yjanaris.

Desiree Drive

Desmond Crescent Colonel Desmond Crofton, a son of Fred Crofton, served in the Canadian Scottish Regiment during World War II. For many years he helped run the Harbour House Hotel (started by his parents) and was also one of the partners of the Gulf Islands Ferry Company, which provided the island with its first ferry service.

Devine Drive Isabella (“Bella”) Devine worked at the main counter in Mouat’s for many years.

Dodds Road A.J.W. Dodds arrived in 1905 and taught at Central/Vesuvius School.

Dogwood Lane descriptive name

Dogwood Road descriptive name

Don Ore Road Donore was the estate of the Barnes family. It was the first grant of land given by the English king to a family in Ireland. Bruce Barnes, who developed this area, was of Irish descent.

Douglas Road Named after a homesteader who lived at the bottom of the road.

Dover Place

Drake Road Arthur Drake was the butter maker at the Salt Spring creamery from 1912 to 1949.

Duck Creek Drive This is a corruption of the original Dock Creek; a dock once existed in Dock Bay into which the creek flows.

Dukes Road Walter and George Dukes came to the island in 1887 and

1906. They lived at the end of Dukes Road.

Dupuis Road Alternately spelled “Depuis” and “Dupuis,” this may be a corruption of Dupuy, as Patrick and Rosamonde Dupuy have lived nearby on Mountain Road since the 1970s.

Eagle Ridge Drive descriptive name

Eagles Road descriptive name

Elizabeth Drive Named by Mac Mouat after his wife, Elizabeth (Betty) Mouat, in the late 1960s.

Ensilwood Road Bill Ensilwood, retired from the army, lived at the corner of Ensilwood and LePage Roads in a mobile home.

Epron Road Named after a farmer who pre-empted land here.

Fairview Road descriptive name

Fairway Crescent descriptive name

Fairway Drive descriptive name

Farm Court descriptive name

Fer-de-Lance Road Possibly named by someone who missed these large South American snakes.

Fernwood Road descriptive name

Forest Hill Place descriptive name

Forest Ridge Road descriptive name

Fort Street Perhaps named for the Hudson’s Bay Company fort in Victoria by the developers of this area (Grantville) in 1891, who included Victoria Mayor John Grant and Captain Edward Walker.

Fraser Road The family name of Lotus Ruckle. Her brother Donald Fraser developed this area. The family of five children came to the island in 1921 with their mother, Frances Imogene Fraser Menhinick, and her husband, John Cory Menhinick.

Frazier Road George Quesnel and Peter Thompson subdivided land here. Their company name was Frazier Farm.

Fred Road Named after Fred Howard, who made the subdivision in the Cranberry, Fred Road leads to Roberts Lake. The naming was arranged by Phillip S. Swift, O.L.S., B.C.L.S. He says it's a road you can get to know on a first name basis.

Fruitvale Road Fruit Vale was the name of W. E. Scott’s estate and orchard, one of the island’s largest producers of fruit. See also<