| Feature Type: | 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. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | SW. end of Meares Island, N. of Tofino, Clayoquot Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 49°10'24"N, 125°54'38"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92F/4 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Potentially adopted 30 June 1911 on 92F/4 as listed in 1911 Gazetteer and as appears\on British Admiralty Chart 584 "Sydney Inlet to Nitinat including Clayoquat and Barclay Sounds" (1861) and Reference Maps 16 "Vancouver Island" (1908, 1910, 1911). Appeared as "village" and "settlement" but records cannot confirm difference between adoptions of Opitsat (Community) and Opitsat (Reserve). Confirmed on 7 January 1947 on 92F/4 as a settlement. Appears as "[Indigenous] village" in 1924 and 1930 Gazetteers. Listed as "community" in 1985 Gazetteer. Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff. |
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Walbran letter dated May 23, 1911- "I have in my possession one of the earliest charts issued by the Admiralty, Sydney Inlet to Nitanat, No. 584, dated 1861, and on this chart I note that the Indian village on Meares Island, now named on the present large chart...Clayoquot, is on my chart named Opitsat, the proper name of the village. Therefore I feel much gratified that the old name of Opitsat is to be restored. When I was in the sound I always heard it referred to as Opitsat." Ottawa File 0177. Source: Canadian Geographical Names Database, Ottawa |