| Language of origin | Salishan language family |
| Feature Type: | Harbour (1) - Sheltered water in a shoreline indentation, suitable for mooring or anchoring vessels. |
| Status: | Official |
| Other Names: | Shoal Harbour |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | N of Sidney at NE end of Saanich Peninsula, Cowichan Land District |
| Tags: | Indigenous |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 48°40'19"N, 123°24'40"W at the approximate centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92B/11 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Shoal Harbour adopted 6 November 1934 on National Defence map 415e, Sidney, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart 2689, 1859 et seq, and on BC Lands' map 2A, 1913. Name changed to Tsehum Harbour 12 December 1939 on 92/SE, being the original name and the well-established local name. (file S.2.33) Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office. |
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"According to the Chief of the remnants of the Tsehum Band, now living at Patricia Bay, the Tsehum formerly lived on Shoal [Tsehum] Harbour, North Saanich, but moved to their present site, partially for better protection from northern raiders, but also because Patricia Bay is far warmer in winter. The name means "clay", referring to the (infusorial) earth used by the Salish tribes in extracting the greases from mountain goat wood, etc." (31 May 1934 letter from W.A.Newcombe, file S.2.33) Source: BC place name cards, files, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer/Geographical Names Office. |