| Language of origin | Salishan language family Hulʼqʼumiʼnumʼ language |
| Feature Type: | Community - An unincorporated populated place, generally with a population of 50 or more, and having a recognized central area that might contain a post office, store and/or community hall, etc, intended for the use of the general public in the region. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | W side Finlayson Arm opposite Elbow Point, NW of Victoria, Malahat Land District |
| Tags: | Indigenous |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 48°32'52"N, 123°33'55"W at the approximate population centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92B/12 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Malahat (Post Office) adopted 16 January 1950 on 92 B/12 at 48 32 - 123 33. Form of name changed to Malahat (community) 31 January 1983 and coordinated adjusted to 48 33 - 123 34. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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Scenic View Post Office was opened 16 January 1937, located in Lot 58; renamed Malahat Post Office 2 June 1942, in association with Malahat Ridge. Malahat Post Office relocated southward to Lot 51, 15 February 1965; community remains centred around original post office location. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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Malahat means "place of bait." (May 1959 advice from Walter Elliott, Tzuhalem Band, to Provincial Archives); "a bunch of caterpillars" (April 1973 advice from Randy Bouchard, BC Indian Language Project, in turn as told by Chris Paul, Tsartlip Band); Ma'lexel [applying to upland stretching along east side of Saanich Inlet or just to the Mill Bay area?] refers to a caterpillar infestation... (Saltwater People, as told by David Elliott Sr; School District 63, 1983.) Source: included with note |
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June 3, 2011 is the 100th anniversary of the first car over the Malahat. Link to "www.maureenduffus.com/history/malahat-drive" for the story and photographs of the building of the Malahat Drive. Source: included with note |