Mount Baird was named for John Douglas Baird.
Douglas Baird was a lad with an endless stream of energy and good humour, “full of spirit and decency and the zest of living.” Douglas took a leading role in Chilliwack athletics, actively participating in lacrosse, golf, basketball and softball as well as managing the “Valleys” basketball team for two years. He was also the past president of the Lewa Club. In March 1941, he joined the R.C.A.F. with his friend, Harvey Weeks, with whom he also trained. Graduating as an air gunner, Douglas went overseas in March 1942, and was posted to North Africa serving with 150 Squadron, equipped with Wellington bombers. On February 10, 1943, the Wellington aircraft in which he was flying was hit by enemy fire and crashed upon returning to base. Flight Sergeant Baird died of his injuries at 96 General Hospital, near Algiers. At the time of his death Douglas was believed to have made almost 20 operational trips over Germany and German‑occupied countries (Ferguson, 2009).
In 1947, geographical features were named by an agency of the federal government, the Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographical names after receiving a list of names of Canadian servicemen from Chilliwack who were killed during the Second World War From Canada’s Department of National Defence. The names were divided by province and were to be assigned to geographical features close to the place of enlistment (Grainger, 1998, p.82).
Mount Baird lies northeast of Chilliwack at the headwaters of Emory Creek, east of Mount McNair and Mount Parker (Grainger, 1998, p.72)
References:
- Grainger, N. (1998). The Mountain Project.Chilliwack, B.C.: Neil Grainger
- Ferguson, P. (2009). Chilliwack War Memorial. Online exhibit retrieved from http://www.chilliwackmuseum.ca/war-memorial/WW2_b_names.html
Photograph caption: John Douglas Baird [Chilliwack Museum and Archives photo].