Adopted 28 March 1967 on Map 92M, as established in Northland Navigation Co. Ltd. T.T.29, 16 May 1966. Named in association with Kibella Bay.

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff.

Kilbella means “long river” in the Oowekyala language, which is spoken by members of the Wuikinuxv or Oweekeno First Nation (the name of the adjacent Chuckwalla R, by comparison, means “Short River”). The Wuikinuxv First Nation reserve at this location, however, is spelled Kiltala. This confusion over the spelling of First Nation names may explain why the cannery (and, later, the logging camp) located on this bay at the mouth of the river was named Kildala. Built in 1906 by George Dawson and Alfred Buttimer, with Dan Grooves as manager, Kildala Cannery was sold in 1925 to the Canadian Fishing Co. It ceased canning in the 1940s but was used as a gillnet camp until 1960. The Kilbella and Chuckwalla rivers are home to famous races of Chinook salmon.

Source: Scott, Andrew; "The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names"; Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 2009, page 307.

Not Kildala (Steamer Landing), which was a different, nearby feature that has its name rescinded in 1955.

Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff.