Adopted 2 February 1926 on C323, as labelled on British Admiralty Chart #1923A, 1870 et seq; the channel is depicted but not named on the 1867 edition of the same chart, surveyed by Capt. Pender that year.

Source: BC place name cards, correspondence and/or research by BC Chief Geographer & Geographical Names Office staff.

Whales can be observed in numerous locations along the BC coast; the anecdote or observation that explains Pender's choice of name for THIS particular feature is not recorded in the BC Geographical Names Office files. "Whale Channel is commonly used by humpback whales throughout the spring, summer, fall, and early winter primarily as a feeding ground. This area around Gil Island and Caamano Sound has [recently been] designated as Critical Habitat for humpback whales under the Species At Risk Act because of the consistently large aggregations of humpback whales found there. Whale Channel is used readily by the whales, and a number of them can be found there on any given day from spring through fall. Northern resident killer whales (salmon-eating specialists) are also very regular visitors to the Caamano Sound and Gil Island area, including Whale Channel, more commonly seen here from June through August, but have been documented around this area in all months of the year. They use the area primarily for foraging on Chinook and Chum salmon, but are found socializing and resting as well, occasionally in large groups of 60 or more. Transient killer whales (marine mammal-eating specialists) are also found throughout the year in this area, and are regularly observed eating seals, sealions, and dall's porpoise there. Dall's porpoise also seem to use Whale Channel extensively, commonly in large numbers. Fin whales are also found in this area (Caamano Sound to Wright Sound), the only inshore area on the entire coast to host consistent aggregations of fin whales that return year after year - quite unique. Also, whalers caught a number of whale species in this area in the mid-1900's, including in Whale Channel. Jacinto Caamano mentions in his journal a story that the natives told him of large sea monsters (likely whales) while he was anchored off the Cherry Islets in 1792. And Menzies mentions whales and porpoises in McKay reach in 1793. So the name is no surprise, but it would be really interesting to find some notes or observations that Pender had made there that caused him to name it that." (overview contributed January 2014 by James Pilkington, Cetacean Research Program/Pacific Biological Station, Dept of Fisheries and Oceans.)

Source: included with note