| 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: | W side of Columbia River, just N of Invermere, Kootenay Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 50°31'59"N, 116°04'03"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 82K/9 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Wilmer (Post Office) adopted 4 November 1954 on Columbia River Manuscript 48, as labelled on BC map 1EM, 1915; identified as Wilmer (settlement) in the 1977 supplement to the Gazetteer; form of name changed to Wilmer (community) 30 April 1982 on 82 K/9. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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"Peterborough" Post Office opened here 1 May 1900; name changed to "Wilmer" Post Office 1 May 1902, possibly as required by Post Office Department, to avoid duplication with the much larger community of Peterborough, Ontario. A 1907 Marriage Licence was issued at Peterborough (BC Archives), but by WW I the community was well known as Wilmer. Wilmer PO closed 19 March 1969. At the time of closing, the Post Office was located on L18, Blk 26, DL 377. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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The highest temperature officially recorded in Canada was at Wilmer, BC: 115º on 19.6.11 [information received in 1954 in this format - presumably this means 19 June 1911.] Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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After Wilmer Cleveland Wells (1840-1933) rancher and lumberman who founded the place in the late 1890's. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |