Established by Order in Council 187, 6 February 1922; boundary described in BC Gazette, 9 February 1922. Area expanded per OIC 394, 21 March 1989. Area expanded per Bill 53: Park Amendment Act 1995, 13 July 1995, to include the area formerly known as Kokanee Glacier Recreation Area, the whole now containing 32,035 ha. more or less. Redescribed per OIC 1201/90. Conversion of OIC to Statute designation per Bill 17-2000: Protected Areas of British Columbia Act, 29 June 2000; the whole containing 32,035 ha. more or less.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Established in 1922, the park is one of the oldest in the Provincial parks system. It is named for the glacier that clings to the easterly and northeasterly slopes of 2774 metre Kokanee Peak, which is situated almost in the centre of the park. Kokanee is a Kootenay Indian word meaning "red fish" referring to the land-locked salmon that spawn in Kokanee Creek and other tributaries of Kootenay Lake." (BC Parks brochure). See also Kokanee Creek.

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

Notation on BC name card suggests that Kokanee Park was the original name, and residents subsequently petitioned for the name to be changed to Kokanee Glacier Park. The original Order in Council or BC Gazette, 1922, not available for inspection; 1925 Geological Survey map #2038 is titled "Kokanee Glacier Park".

Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office