There's a new name for the old stretch of Highway 97 along Wood Lake.
Lake Country council decided Tuesday to give the name Pelmewash Parkway to the highway, which will become a local road once the new highway opens on the hillside in the spring.
"I like the name," said Coun. Owen Dickie.
"Pelmewash was the first name of Wood Lake. It recognizes the First Nations history of the area."
Recently archeological work as part of the highway construction has revealed numerous aboriginal artifacts near Wood Lake.
"The name recognizes the First Nations as the first ones here," said Mayor James Baker.
It's anticipated that parks and other features along the old highway may also use First Nations names.
Council had narrowed the name choices down from 160 submissions to a short-list of three based on public feedback, historical naming by aboriginal inhabitants of the area, a corridor theme for future parks, and naming conflict with other jurisdictions.
The other names in the running were Lake Country Parkwa and Wood Lake Parkway.