The Lake of Many Colors (Commonly called Kalamalka): Poem by A.V. Despard and Possible Origin of the Moniker

This poem by A.C. Despard (published in 1944) appears to be the first mention of the term "Lake of Many Colours" to refer to Kalamalka Lake. Since there is no evidence that the origin of the name "Kalamalka" means "Lake of Many Colours"*, then perhaps this is where we first got that particular nickname for the lake. 

There was a popular local song by Paul Malysh and Eric J. Hopkins entitled "The Kalamalka Calls (Lake of Many Colours)" written in 1958 and an orchestral piece composed by Jean Coulthard named "Kalamalka - Lake of Many Colours" but that was not published until 1974. There is no mention of the nickname in the Okanagan Historical Society Reports (that I can find) before a reference to Jean's composition in the 1977 issue. 

I will continue my research into the nickname "Lake of Many Colours" but if you have any information I've missed please contact me. Meanwhile enjoy this beautiful old poem about our lake! 

The Lake of Many Colors

(Commonly called Kalamalka)

O Lake of Many Colors,

Thou has found out how the pearl,

Though living in seclusion

Beneath the ocean swirl

From its opalescent matrix

Can gather all the hues

That make it queen of jewels

Above all that one could choose

Thou hast found out how the diamond

Though bedded deep in earth,

For aeons without number,

Can reveal its polished worth

When taken to the sunlight

Or brought to its baptism 

Of fire, by brightly flashing

All the colors of the prism

Rattlesnake Point/ PC: Joe Harder 

In every mood of nature,

So long as there is light

Thy colored surface changes,

To fresh beauties in our sight.

More vivid in the sunshine,

More subfusc* in the rain.

Thy scheme of color always

Is there – it doth remain.

When misty clouds descending,

Or smoke of forest fire

Obscure the sky, thy beauty

Only seems to mount the higher,

As the shadows grow more pallid,

As the mystery grows more deep;

As the calm comes o’er thy features

Half hidden, as in sleep.

When storm clouds gather darkly,

Mid the thunder, or the hail

Beats fiercely o’er thy bosom;

When the spindrift** lifts the veil

From thy glorious naked beauty,

Thy colors still are there,

Though frowning and more murky,

And perhaps not quite so fair.

In thy workshop grimly working

With a cunning all thine own

On silica, aluminium

And chromium, thou hast shown

To every rapt beholder

How refracted may be seen

From thy valley – beds the emerald’s

Incomparable green.

A.V. Despard  

From "Songs Of Kalamalka" 1944

• *Subfusc: dull; gloomy. “the light was subfusc and aqueous”
• ** Spindrift: spray blown from the crests of waves by the wind.

* "One problem with the name Kalamalka is that it has no known or remembered N'syilxcen (Okanagan language) meaning." Dr. Duane Thomson, Lake Country Museum blogs, comments section, Aug 21 2015).

For more historical info on Kalamalka please visit our Facebook Page - Kalamalka: A History !