Adopted 27 December 1944 on map 94/NE.

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

Named after Sergeant Maxwell Ritchie Collins and Warrant Officer Class I Hamish Gordon Collins, sons of Harold Victor and Hilda Cecil (nee Biggar) Collins, of North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Sergeant Maxwell Ritchie Collins, R/74592, from North Vancouver, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Squadron 214, killed in action 14 January 1941, age 35. Buried in Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, United Kingdom, panel 61.
Warrant Officer Class I Hamish Gordon Collins, R/74976, from North Vancouver, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Squadron 407, killed in action 31 May 1943, age 33. Buried at Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, united Kingdom, panel 179.

Source: included with note

The lake has sandy beaches and the potential to be a popular recreation area. This area has significanct historic and current use by local First Nations, who refer to Maxhamish Lake as Sandy Lake. (Northern Rockies/ Fort Nelson LRMP summary, p.9)

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