Current surveys

Map of Ontario with locations of name proposals highlighted.


 

The Ontario Geographic Names Board has received 5 name proposals. We want to hear from residents who know any local name(s) for the features highlighted on the map.

Based on your feedback, the board may make a recommendation to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to officially adopt the proposed name.

Official names appear on government maps and publications.

If you are familiar with any of the following features and would like to comment, please complete a short survey by July 22, 2024.

Current open surveys

Britannia Village

Community within the City of Ottawa that is north of the Trans Canada Trail and west of the Britannia Conservation Area.

lac Tremblay

Located approximately 15 kilometres northeast of Smooth Rock Falls in the District of Cochrane and the Geographic Township of Beniah.

Twin Peaks

An island located just south of Point Grondine 3 Reserve and 2 kilometres west of Collins Inlet on Mill Lake in the Municipality of Killarney, District of Sudbury.

Tipperary Creek

Located in Nepean within the City of Ottawa. Near Borrisokane Road and connected to the Jock River.

Sutton Island

Located approximately 5 kilometres southeast of Seeleys Bay on South Lake in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands

About geographic names

Geographic names help us describe our surroundings and identify historic, cultural and natural features on the landscape.

They are essential for:

  • mapping
  • emergency response
  • resource management
  • conservation
  • travel and tourism
  • law enforcement
  • environmental planning

How it works

In Ontario, we have the Ontario Geographic Names Board.

The Board:

  • reviews applications for new names for unincorporated places (e.g., villages, hamlets) and geographic features (e.g., lakes, rivers, hills, valleys)
  • submits recommended geographic feature names to the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry for approval in accordance with the Ontario Geographic Names Board Act

When recommending names, the Board:

  • follows the principles and procedures it has put in place
  • confirms that names are used and supported by the community

A spatial database of official geographic feature and unincorporated place names (in English, French and First Nation languages) is maintained by the ministry.

View recent naming decisions

How to request a name

Step 1: Read our naming principles.

Applicants should note:

  • requests that do not comply with the principles will not be considered
  • the Board primarily considers the local usage of a name
  • commemorative names are reserved for those who made an outstanding contribution to a local area, Ontario or Canada
  • land ownership on its own does not warrant changing a well-established name
  • the Board does not support commemorative names for living persons
  • the Board does not endorse naming contests or competitions and will not accept the results of these activities

Step 2: Send an email to geographicnames@ontario.ca to request a submission form.

Don’t forget to attach relevant documentation that will support your name request. Your submission will be reviewed by the Board for potential approval. This process can take up to 12 months.