“James Creek” adopted in the 18th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 1924, not “Bad River”, the long-established local name. Name changed to “Bad River (James Creek)” in 1976 to accommodate local usage, known as such since Alexander Mackenzie [1764–1820] crossed the divide here in 1793.

The “James” was after James Herrick McGregor, who supplies the names of James Creek, Herrick Creek, and McGregor River.