Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
"Wapuskanectes" was first named by Patrick S. Druckenmiller and Anthony P. Russell in 2006 and the type species is "Wapuskanectes betsynichollsae". The generic name is derived from "Wapuska", Cree language for "a body of water with whitecaps on it" and also it is the etymology of the Wabiskaw Member, in which the holotype was found, and "nectes", Greek for "swimmer". The specific name honors the late Dr. Elizabeth "Betsy" Nicholls, curator of marine reptiles at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, for enduring influence on research in Mesozoic marine vertebrates.