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Ogopogo is a word used in Canadian English for unidentified aquatic creatures, especially lake monsters and in folklore. Stories of ogopogos have been reported across Western and Central Canada, with Lake Okanagan having the most famous example. The word comes from a English music hall song, Ogo-Pogo, The Funny Fox-Trot. The name was given to the Lake Okanagan sea serpent, but quickly spread to any unidentified aquatic creatures. The use of the word ranges from misidentifications for rocks and fish to hoaxes and tall tales of fire breathing monsters and 300 foot long, flying sea serpents.

Name


The name "ogopogo" originates from a 1924 English music hall song called "The Ogo-Pogo: The Funny Fox-Trot", by Cumberland Clark and Mark Strong.

Frank Buckland speculates on the origin of the name:

Can't confirm Ogopog existed

On August 23, 1926, The Kalamaka Players of Vernon performed a parody of the Ogo-Pogo song at a civil luncheon. H.F. Beattie wrote lyrics that added characteristics of the Lake Okanagan monster. W.H. Brimblecombe sang the following lyrics:

The next day, Ronald Kenvyn of the Vancouver Daily Province wrote an article titled "Ogopogo Now Official Name of the Famous Okanagan Sea Serpent"

In 1931, Bill Brimblecombe wrote in a report to the Okanagan Historical Society:

Imitations and Variations

 * Igopogo of Lake Simcoe, Ontario name is based on Ogopogo and also the title 1952 book I Go Pogo, a slogan often mentioned in the comic.


 * Manipogo of Lake Manitoba


 * Minnepogo, a mile-long fish that was seen once in Lake Minnewanka, Alberta


 * Obepokey of the Kettle River in British Columbia


 * Otterpogo, The Medicine-Hat Chamber of Commerce offered a $100 reward for a genuine egg of "an Ogopogo, an Otterpogo or a Crocowhale."


 * Saskipogo, a goldfish-wombat cross that has never been seen in Lake Saskatchewan made up for article? - but shows up on google search


 * Sicopogo a name varient for Shuswaggi of Shuswap Lake, British Columbia
 * Winnepogo or Winnipogo of Lake Winnipegosis

British Columbia
A partial skeleton, washed up near Vancouver,thought to be an ogopogo, was identified as a Basking Shark.

A 300 foot ogopogo was seen in Harrison River in 1936. According to old timers, "who claim to know a little (?) about the habits of the Ogopogo", said it splits into three parts when exploring new territory.

In 1932, a 7 to 9 foot ogopogo in Trout Lake, near Anyox.

Ogopogo's twin was caught, but escaped in Williams Lake. The fish was later identified as a 20 foot sturgeon.

Lake Okanagan
See main article on Ogopogo

Alberta
in 1938 and 1945, ogopogos were seen in Waterton Lakes. The sightings were thought to be a log, sturgeon or ducks.

An ogopogo with a foot wide mouth was reported in the South Saskatchewan River in 1947. Then in 1949, a five to eight foot Ogopogo covered in dark, brown fur resembling an alligator

Several witnesses claimed to see a 12 to 14 foot monster swimming in Lake MacGregor, near Milo, Alberta.

Oswald, the Battle River Ogopogo was identified as a sturgeon.

Ben Coxworth and Chris Zdeb call the creature seen in Saddle Lake an ogopogo.

Bowness Lagoon
On July 24, 1942, a five-foot "Ogopogo" was caught in the big lagoon in Bowness Park, Calgary, by Park Superintendent John McDonald and later  killed whenby Commissionaire R. McDonald (no relation). Commissionaire R. McDonald identified the animal as a ling, skinned it and cooked it for his supper. He said it tasted "grand"

V. A. "Van" Newhall, chairman of the angling section of the Alberta Fish and Game League, stated that freshwater ling are not uncommon in rivers and lakes in the Calgary area.

North Saskatchewan River
In March of 1934, a man reported to police "Something big"  struggling in the water    near Dawson Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta. Constable James McMurray investigated and concluded that the large volume of water coming from the sewer outlet created a pattern appearing like something was there.

In August of 1934, Ruby Samson and Olive Haw thought they saw Ogopogo during a canoe trip on the North Saskatchewan River. Haw stated, " but It turned out to be Just a rock".

Blue Rapids Ogopogo
Between 1936 and 1943, several sighting of an ogopogo occurred by Blue Rapids, near Drayton Valley.

In 1936, gold panners Jack Smith and Fred Olson spotted a 12 foot long ogopogo with a huge head and body and covered in dark brown, serrated skin.

A year later, James Hunt and Carl Lunberg saw something break the water three times two miles downstream of Blue Rapids. .

Gold washers, James Redpath and Bert Snell, reported seeing on Ogopogo about six miles up stream of Drayton Valley in 1940.

While duck hunting in September of 1942, William Patterson and Geoffrey Smith saw Ogopogo swim up a backwater, then swimmimg downstream towards Edmonton.

In 1943, hunters saw ogopogo swanning towards Edmonton.

Rocky Mountain Terror
Between 1939 and 1943, the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald printed several articles on a river monster near Rocky Mountain House, Alberta.

The creature was described as "long and grey", "as big as a boxcar", horns, red eyes as big as plates and fire-breathing a mouth big enough to swallow a small boy

Henry Stelfox Letters
Henry Stelfox, Regional Representative Alberta Fish and Game Association, responded to articles published in the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald "it is regrettable that such nonsensical piffle is sent for publication to one of our leading newspapers. Stelfox read the article to some Natives in his office. The reply was, "Big liar". "

In a letter responding to the article Rocky Mountain Terror, Stelfox give a recipe for "a very potent mixture" that would allow the drinker "to see every conceivable animal ...that a distorted imagination is capable of visualizing."

Ben Coxworth Investigation
An investigation by Ben Coxworth found that the articles were writen by Grace Schierholtz, a field correspondent for the Edmonton Journal and the Calgary Herald. Brian Mazza, editor of the Rocky Mountain House paper The Mountaineer informed Ben Coxworth that

Ontario
The body of a thirty foot sea serpent with dark brown skin and copper colored spots was found in the Trent River, two miles East of Hastings, Ontario.

Two men from Sarnia spotted and followed a 9 foot monster in the St. Clair River.

Indigenous people of Miminiska Lake have stories of a large snake-like animal in the lake. . Outdoor columnist Jack Hambleton, reported seeing a 50 foot splashing near shore Ogopogo See River Monsters S07E41

In 1936, two boys spotted an 20 foot green monster with black spots in the marsh behind an old sewer plant in Belleville. They called the creature an Ogopogo.

Manitoba
An animal resembling a 10 foot log was observed diving and stirring up mud near Chitek Lake between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Winnipegosis

Saskatchewan
Lake Katepwe Ogopogo caught - fish story 'blurry microfilm

In 1932, a 10 foot tall, frog-like animal was reported near Pine Bluff, Saskatchewan.

In December, 1933, a $5 reward was offered wqs offered for evidence of an ogopogo in Saskatchewan. "Affidavits are good, but will not be accepted if bearing dates of December 24 to January 1 inclusive. Pink elephants will not do."

Outside Canada
The Windsor Star and The Ottawa Citizen refereed to the Loch Ness Monster as an ogopogo.

An ogopogo was sighted in Lake Washington, near Seattle that was later identified as a Sea Otter.

Leave Ogopogo alone
A letter to the editor in Manitoba Free Press and reprinted elsewhere responded to a claim that Ogopogo was found frozen in ice near Norwood, Ontario. The writer states that "Ogopogo lives in Lake Okanagan in British Columbia" and that "Ogopogo has never been east, and does not intend to go."

Battle of Ogopogo
After appearing in Kalamalka Lake in 1956, Vernon calimed that "Ogopogo had returned home." A group of Vernon businessman, headed by CJIB manager Gill Seabrook, copyrighted the name Ogopogo, "much to the chagrin of Kelowna and other Okanagan cities." He gave the rights to the City of Vernon. The "Battle of Ogopogo" ended when J. W. T. Mitchell, commissioner of patents in Ottawa, stated the the general term Ogopogo cannot be registered.

Nith River Monster
In a tongue-in-cheek interview on the front page of Medicine Hat News, Ogopogo said regarding New Hamburg, Ontario's Nith River Monster, “No self-respecting sea-monster would allow his name to be associated with such an inconsequential beast.”

Medicine Hat vs. Kelowna

 * Im 1955, a new bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway, crossing the South Saskatchewan River near Medicine Hat opened. An unknown person placed signs saying "Ogopogo bridge.".


 * The president of the Kelowna Board of Trade called this move a "straight steal.".


 * Mayor Harry Veiner of Medicine Hat said "If we use Ogopogo, we plan to spell It backwards,".


 * To settle the dispute, Mayor Harry Veiner challenged Mayor J. J. Ladd of Kelowna to a 100-yard. foot race.


 * The left eye of the Ogopogo statue in Kelowna is stolen and turned up on the Mayor of Medicine Hat's desk a week later.


 * It was revealed that the dispute was a light-hearted exchange between the mayors.


 * In April, the ogopogo statue was tared and featured. Mayor Ladd declared "A joke's a joke, but this has gone too far."