BCGNIS Query Results

Mary Tod IslandOfficial Name
Feature Type:Island
Latitude:48°26'00" Position at: CENTRE
Longitude:123°18'00"
Gazetteer Map:92B/6
Relative Location:Just off Turkey Head in Oak Bay (bay), in Oak Bay Municipality just E of Victoria, Victoria Land District
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Origin Notes and History

Mary Tod Island was adopted 1 May 1934 on National Defence sheet 415a, Victoria, as labelled on BC Lands map 2A, 1913; not "Todd Island" as labelled on British Admiralty Chart 2840, 1861, nor "Mary Todd Island" as spelled on British Admiralty Chart 577, 1864 et seq.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

This small island is situated in front of the old homestead of the Tod family at Oak Bay, and was so-named about 1856 by John Tod, JP, after his daughter Mary, who subsequently married John Bowker of Victoria. Mary Tod Bowker was still living at Oak Bay in 1906. The island became the property of Mr. Virtue, owner of Oak Bay's Mount Baker Hotel; at his death in August 1930 the island was deeded to the Oak Bay Municipality with proviso that no building should ever be erected thereon.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office

By the time John Tod called this Mary Tod Island in 1856, the island might already have been known locally as "Jimmy Chickens' Island", referring to the Crusoe-like inhabitant who lived there for many years with his wife, Jenny Chickens. Jimmy Chickens was a well-known local character, "....considerably over sixty years of age" at his death in January 1901 (Victoria Times 1 February 1901). See also Victoria Colonist 1 February 1901, and 20 January 1951.
Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office