Correct the Naming of Testalinda Creek

Dear British Columbia Geographical Names Office and Geographical Names Board of Canada,

Whereas, whenever recent news events have occurred that involved Testalinda Creek on the south-east side of Mount Kobau, draining into the Okanagan River, news media consistently report erroneously using the name "Testalinden;" and

Whereas news media apparently draw the erroneous name "Testalinden" from geographical naming lists under control of the British Columbia Geographical Names Office and the Geographical Names Board of Canada; and

Whereas British Columbia's Geographical Naming Principles, Policy and Procedures states "NAMES IN GENERAL PUBLIC USE
(a) First priority shall be given to names with long-standing local usage by the general public. Unless there are good reasons to the contrary, this policy should prevail.
(b) Where long-established forms of names on maps and in records conflict with extensive, preferred local usage, the latter should prevail unless it is believed that confusion might occur, derogatory or pejorative forms might result, or for some other reason the local name does not serve the public interest." and

Whereas the correct name, as attested by residents of Oliver and southern Okanagan agricultural neighbourhoods over many generations is "Testalinda:"

•A sketch map of the vicinity was drawn in 1911, June, clearly lists Testalinda Creek by its correct name;

•When a school, build about 1927, existed in the vicinity of Testalinda Creek it held the name "Testalinda Creek School," directly adopted from the already established name of the creek itself, and former students and their descendants of that school still living in or near Oliver remember it well;

•When schools got consolidated in Oliver, the replacement school continued to use the name as "Oliver, Testalinda, Osoyoos School," familiarly called the OTO School;

•Through the 1950s and 60s the British Columbia Department of Highways kept a sign on Highway 97 where it crossed Testalinda Creek showing the name "Testalinda Creek;" and

•To this day southern Okanagan residents and former residents know the creek by the name "Testalinda Creek," by no other name, and were dismayed when media reports of the 2010 flash flood and this summer's wildfire used a different name;

Therefore, we the undersigned residents, former residents who maintain an interest in our former home, and knowledgeable frequent visitors of Oliver and the southern Okanagan, do petition you, the British Columbia Geographical Names Office and the Geographical Names Board of Canada, to restore the correct name of "Testalinda" on your naming lists, data bases, and maps.

Thank you.