| 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: | E side Columbia River, NW of Golden, Kootenay Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 51°29'44"N, 117°10'29"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 82N/6 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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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. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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"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. Source: Provincial Archives' Place Names File (the "Harvey File") compiled 1945-1950 by A.G. Harvey from various sources, with subsequent additions |
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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]. Source: Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; 1001 British Columbia Place Names; Discovery Press, Vancouver 1969, 1970, 1973. |