Bear Lake Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, 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. NE side Bear Lake, N of Fort Babine, Cassiar Land District

Mapped Location

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

 

Information

General information on Bear Lake

  • Feature Type: Place

 

Official, historical, colloquial and alternative toponyms for Bear Lake

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

Name Description
Bear Lake Official

 

Origin Notes and History of Bear Lake

References to Bear Lake that document the origin of its place name

"Bear Lake (Fort Connelly) Settlement" adopted 23 April 1940 on Geological Survey sheet 622A, McDonnell Creek; form of name changed to Bear Lake (Settlement) 2 November 1964 on 94D/2, as labelled on BC Lands' map 5A, 1917 (file B.1.64). Since changed to Bear Lake (community).

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

Fort Connolly (also spelled Connelly) was established in 1826 by James Douglas for the Hudson's Bay Company, and so-named by him for his father-in-law.

B.C. Geographical Names in Province of British Columbia
Canadian Geographical Names Database, Ottawa  |  Province of British Columbia

F.C. Swannell, BCLS, reported that Sekani Indians had told him the Fort was situated on the island in Tsaytut Bay. However, according to long-time guide-outfitter Tommy Walker in "Spatsizi" (p.120), Fort Connolly was located at the north end of Bear Lake; in any event, there is nothing left of HBC's Fort Connelly and that name is no longer used.

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

 

Regional District of Fraser-Fort George

Political Boundaries

Last updated: 2023-10-01