Adopted 11 December 1952 on 92 C/15, as labelled on J.B. Davenport's 1945 map of Cowichan Lake and District.

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

Had been labelled "McPherson Creek" on E&N plan 9T227 (date not cited); E&N staff advise that McPherson was an early resident at Genoa Bay who died at San Fransisco many years ago. (file B.1.39)

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

Established local name, referring to Doreen Ashburnham, who as a girl of 11, fought off a cougar, thereby saving the life of her 8-year old cousin, Anthony Farrer. Ashburnham had been born in Sussex and was taken as a child to Cowichan Lake by her parents, because she was considered too delicate for the climate of southern England. On the morning of 23 September 1916, when she and her cousin were walking in the woods near this creek, they encountered a cougar crouching beside the path. Before they could flee the animal leaped on to Doreen's back; when Anthony attempted to save her by slashing at the animal with a bridle, the cougar transferred its attentions to the boy, seizing him in its jaws. Doreen leaped on to the cougar's back and battered it around the head with her fists; she thrust her arm into its mouth and succeeded in making the cougar release the boy. The cougar took fright because of some sound, Doreen managed to limp home and sound the alarm, after which the cougar was found and shot. The cougar was 7 feet 9 inches from head to tail, and was mounted and displayed by the curator of the Provincial Museum. The children were presented with the Albert medal (now called the George Cross) by the Duke of Devonshire. Ashburnham was the youngest female ever to win the medal, and her cousin the youngest-ever recipient. Anthony Farrer was killed in 1930, age 22, while on manoeuvers with the Canadian Army. Doreen lived at Cowichan until her return to England as a debutante in 1925, then moved to California, joining the first US women's polo team. Afterwards she raised show horses in Italty for international competition, became an aviator, and ferried planes from the US to Britain during WW II. Doreen Ashburnham-Ruffner, GC, died 4 October 1991 in California, age 86. Extensive obituary in the London Times.

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