"Callaghan Creek (not West Fork Cheakamus River)" adopted 2 September 1930 on Garibaldi sheet, as labelled on BC map 2B, 1914 (file G.1.30).

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

Labelled "Callaghan (West Fork) Creek" [in relation to the Cheakamus River] on BC Lands map 2B, New Westminster District, 1914.

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

Named in 1914 by BC's Chief Geographer, after John Callaghan, Chief Engineer for PGE Railway during construction of their line, 1912-15, and who had helped with the selection and verification of names for BC Lands map 2B, 1914. Afterwards Callaghan was with Alberta Government Railways.

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

A 10,200+ hectare area on the west side of the Callaghan Creek watershed has been identified by Squamish Nation as a Wild Spirit Place, called Payákentsut (pronounced pie a kun sote). A Wild Spirit Place is an area of cultural, spiritual and/or ecological significance to the Squamish Nation. Payákentsut includes one of the largest areas of unprotected old growth forest in the Cheakamus River valley. (Squamish Nation Forest Recreation Guide, 2003).

Source: included with note

The Squamish name is P'áyakentsut, meaning "to train oneself physically as a warrior" - the entire Callaghan Valley was used for this type of training. The L'íl'wat name for Callaghan Valley is Scwálem, a place where wild game use the trails seasonally. This valley is also the Nordic Centre Competition Venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. As partners, Squamish are pleased to have constructed the Nordic Day Lodge while the L'íl'wat constructed the access road and Legacy Trails. (December 2011 from: Cultural Journey Sea-to-Sky Corridor website, Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations)

Source: included with note