| Language of origin | English language |
| Feature Type: | Point - Land area jutting into a water feature; also used for a convex change in direction of a shoreline. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | SW entrance point to Howe Sound, New Westminster Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 49°23'01"N, 123°32'17"W at the approximate centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92G/5 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Adopted 4 October 1945 on C.3577 as labelled on British Admiralty Chart 579, 1860 and BC Map 2A, "Vancouver Island, Southerly" 1913 etc. Source: BC place name cards & correspondence, and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff. |
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"Adm Sir Erasmus Gower (c1742-1814) was a member of two round-the-world voyages as a young officer... Capt George Vancouver named Gower Point in 1792 and spent a night camping in the vicinity while surveying the region in his ships' boats. The Sechelt First Nation name for this area is Kwye-ahks." (page 230) [See source for career description/timeline for Gower.] Source: Scott, Andrew; "The Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names"; Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park, 2009. |
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Although Captain Vancouver gives no indication as to whom he had in mind when he gave this name, Professor Edmond S. Meany had no doubt that he was thinking of Admiral Sir Erasmus Gower (1742?-1814), who was knighted in 1792 shortly before sailing with H.M.S. Lion to carry Lord Macartney, the first British ambassador to China, to his new post. (page 73) Source: Akrigg, Helen B. and Akrigg, G.P.V; "1001 British Columbia Place Names"; Discovery Press, Vancouver 1969, 1970, 1973. |