Douglas Island (British Columbia)


Douglas Island is a 462-acre island in British Columbia, Canada, located where the Fraser River and Pitt River meet. The island is uninhabited. The island was the property of Canadian Forest Products but the government bought it for $4.5 million.

History and name origin

The British Columbia Geographical Names Information System says about this island, which is one of two with this name in the province:

Presumably named after James Douglas, Hudson's Bay Company Chief Factor, 1840-58; founded Victoria 1843; governor, Vancouver Island 1851-64; governor, British Columbia 1858-64; KCB, 1863. All the lots on the island were purchased by him from the crown at auction, 6 October 1859, but crown grant was issued to his daughter Cecilia Helmcken, wife of Dr. J.S. Helmcken.