Hagan Bight adopted 6 November 1934 on Department of National Defence sheet 415D, Saanich (Ottawa file OBF 1449-2). Name changed to KENNES, 29 March 2010 on 92B/11, as recommended by Hagan Creek/KENNES Watershed Project and Saanich Native Heritage Society, and as endorsed by Tsartlip First Nation, traditional occupants of this area, and as unanimously supported by Mayor and Council of Central Saanich District Municipality/minutes 7 December 2009. (file V.1.38)

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

KENNES [where the K is presented with an Acute accent] is a SENCOTEN word that means "whale - a whale once beached itself at the mouth of Hagan Creek." (from: Saltwater People, a Resource Book for School District 63, as told by David Elliott Sr., 1983, p.22.) KENNES means "place of whales" and may refer to whale(s) drawn to this location by salmon, or the estuary as a nursery for young grey whales. (November 2009 & February 2010 information from Saanich Native Heritage Society and Hagan Creek/KENNES Watershed Project).

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

Note that Stuart Island, about 10 miles due east of Sidney (and the northwesternmost of the San Juan Islands) is also called KENNES (from: Saltwater People, a Resource Book for School District 63, as told by David Elliott Sr., 1983, p.37).

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