How did Prince Rupert get its name?
“Rainy Rupert” was named in a nation-wide contest sponsored by Grand Trunk Pacific Railway officials in I906 who were seeking a name for their new little terminus on the Pacific Coast. They decided the new name should have I0 letters or less, have thee syllables or less, be purely Canadian and preferably significant of British Columbia and to not conflict with any other town name. Eleanor MacDonald of Winnipeg was awarded $250 of her entry of “Prince Rupert” even though that name contains more than I0 letters, and two others, Mrs. John Arms of Bonnecher, Ont. And R. Kirkwood of Copper Cliff, Ont., who suggested the name “Port Rupert” were also awarded $250 each. Thus the “new Pacific Coast City” was named at a cost of $750. Prince Rupert is also an actual Prince. He is known as “Rupert of the Rhine”. He was born in Prague on Nov. 28, I6I9 the son of King Frederick of Bohamis, and Queen Elizabeth, daughter of James I of England. The dashing Prince served in the Army and Navy in several
