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1-23 Madrona Dr |
British Columbia Tourism Region : Vancouver Island
Description From Owner:
Active Pass
- Named after William Tomkins Collinson, JP, who arrived in British Columbia from England in 1858.
- After spending some time in the Cariboo and the Fraser Valley, he moved to Mayne Island in 1871 with Mary, his Indian wife. In 1880 he became the first postmaster on the island.
- Galiano Island - After Dionisio Alcala Galiano, captain of the Spanish vessel Sutil, which explored this area in 1792. Galiano was killed, fighting against the British, in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
- Porlier Pass - Named by Narvaez in 1791 after Antonio Porlier, an official in Madrid.
- Active Pass - After the US survey ship Active, a paddle steamer of 750 tons with two guns, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander James Alden.
- In 1858 Captain G.H. Richards named this stretch of water Plumper Pass after his ship HMS Plumper, an action to which he refers in a letter of October of that year to the Hydrographer of the Royal Navy:
- I have had some correspondence with Mr. Campbell [the American boundary commissioner] on the subject of naming the passage . It appears that the 'Active' sent her boats into this Channel a month before I arrived, and named it 'Active passage.'
- I have informed Mr. C. that had I known the circumstance I should have had much pleasure in retaining the name — & that I would request you to substitute 'Active' for
- (Plumper' on the Chart sent home, but I have at the same time fully explained to him that the right of naming all places on our side rests solely with us ... I shall be much obliged if you will alter the name to Active.
- In a later letter to the Hydrographer, Richards confided that he suspected Campbell had territorial claims in mind when he pressed for the American
- name. The locals, despite the Royal Navy's change to Active Pass, continued to speak of Plumper Pass. And the official name of the post office on Mayne Island was Plumper Pass until 1 April 1900.
- With permission from G.P.V and Helen B. Akrigg 1997 British Columbia Place Names. UBC Press.
Address of this page: http://bc.ruralroutes.com/CollinsonPoint