Prior Lake adopted 12 June 1934 on National Defence sheet 415a, Victoria, as submitted by Victoria Water Commissioner; not "Little Thetis Lake" as had been labelled on 1911 Geological Survey sheet 20A (title not cited).

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

After Lieutenant-Colonel The Honorable Edward Gawlor Prior, PC. Born 21 May 1853 in Dallowgill, Cornwall; came to BC [Nanaimo ?] in December 1873. Employed as a mining engineer and hardware merchant. Inspector of Mines for 2 years; elected to Legislative Assembly for Victoria, 1886; resigned to represent Victoria in House of Commons, 1888; appointed ADC to Governor General in 1889; appointed Dominion Comptroller of Inland Revenue in December 1895; resigned federal seat in 1896; re-elected to Legislative Assemply 1900; Minister of Mines 1900-1903; Premier of British Columbia November 1902 - June 1903. Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia December 18, 1919 until his death December 12, 1920 [the only Lieutenant Governor to die in office]. See also Prior Peak.

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