Donald Columbia-Shuswap Regional District, British Columbia


Community - An unincorporated populated place, generally with a population of 50 or more, and having a recognized central area that might contain a post office, store and/or community hall, etc, intended for the use of the general public in the region. E side Columbia River, NW of Golden, Kootenay Land District

Mapped Location

Donald: The mapped location is an approximation and should not be used for navigation or wayfinding.

 

Information

General information on Donald

  • Feature Type: Place

 

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Donald

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

Name Description
Donald Official

 

Origin Notes and History of Donald

References to Donald that document the origin of its place name

Donald (flag station and settlement) adopted in the 1930 BC Gazetteer, as labelled on BC Lands' map 1EM, 1915. Form of name changed to Donald (station) 8 September 1932 on 82N/SW. Name changed to Donald Station (Post Office) 6 September 1951 on 82N/SW, after the Post Office Department refused the single name "Donald". Name changed to Donald (community) 15 December 1982 on 82N/6.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia

"Named in early 1880's after Donald Alexander Smith (1820-1914) GCMG, GCVO, DCL, LLD, FRS, long prominent in Canadian business and public life, including HBC, CPR, Bank of Montreal, House of Commons and Privy Council. KCMG, 1886. High Commissioner to Great Britain, 1896-1914. First Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal, 1900." Namesake of Strathcona Provincial Park.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia

Originally known locally as First Crossing because this is where the CPR first crossed the Columbia River. Named after Donald A. Smith, director of the CPR during and after construction [of the railroad].

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia

 

Last updated: 2023-09-27