District of Bowen Island Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia

District Municipality (1) - A populated place with legally defined boundaries, incorporated as a district municipality under the provincial Municipal Act. Entrance to Howe Sound, just W of West Vancouver, New Westminster Land District

Mapped Location

District of Bowen Island: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.

 

Information

General information on District of Bowen Island

  • Feature Type: Incorporated

 

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for District of Bowen Island

A brief list of names that this geographic feature has been named

Name Description
District of Bowen Island Official

 

Origin Notes and History of District of Bowen Island

References to District of Bowen Island that document the origin of its place name

Bowen Island (Post Office & Steamer Landing) adopted 7 December 1937 on 92G/6, as labelled on BC map 2B, 1914. Form of name changed to Bowen Island (Community) 15 December 1982 on 92 G/6. Incorporated as a District Municipality, to be known as Bowen Island Municipality, per Letters Patent: Order in Council 1160, 2 September 1999, effective 4 December 1999. Form of name confirmed as Bowen Island (District Municipality) 15 March 2000 on 92G/6.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

Bowen Island Post Office was opened 1 November 1894. See Bowen Island (island).

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office  |  Province of British Columbia

The island was named in 1860 by Captain Richards, RN, after Rear Admiral James Bowen (1751-1835), master of HMS Queen Charlotte, flagship of Admiral Earl Howe, at the battle of the "Glorious First of June", 1794, and who, for his valuable and exceptional services on the occasion of this memorable victory, was specially promoted to the rank of lieutenant....

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
Walbran, John T; British Columbia Coast Names, 1592-1906: their origin and history; Ottawa, 1909 (republished for the Vancouver Public Library by J.J. Douglas Ltd, Vancouver, 1971)  |  Province of British Columbia

 

Related Catalog Titles

A Bibliography for District of Bowen Island, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia

Bowen Island, 1872-1972 by Irene Howard

Title Cover Image

BC writer Irene Howard has woven together years of correspondence, historical records, anecdotes, and interview material to create this textual account of Bowen Island history. The book covers the lives of the early settlers, the days of the steamships, significant events, and notable islanders who have shaped the Bowen Island we now know.

190 pages, 10 unnumbered leaves of plates illustrations, maps, portraits 24 cm

CIRC [ 1 ]
History · 1st Edition · Bowen Island Historians, Bowen Island, B.C., 1973
Related Catalog Items: District of Bowen Island · Metro Vancouver Regional District

 


Related Online Resources

Átl’ka7tsem | Howe Sound Marine Reference Guide

A Marine Reference Guide (interactive map) that displays data associated with Átl’ka7tsem’s ocean and watersheds. This will support decision-making, marine spatial planning, and community education by visualizing how human and natural systems interact and overlap.

WEB LINK
District of Bowen Island · British Columbia · Town of Gibsons · District of Squamish · Horseshoe Bay · Keats Island · Port Mellon · Howe Sound

 

Metro Vancouver Regional District

Political Boundaries

Last updated: 2025-09-23