Ontario Geographic Names Board

Ministry

Natural Resources and Forestry

URL

www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/business/geographicnames/index.html

Address

ROBINSON PLACE, 2ND FLOOR NORTH, 300 WATER STREET, PO BOX 7000
PETERBOROUGH
K9J3C7

Phone

(705) 313-2789

Fax

(705) 755-2149

Background

Ontario Geographic Names Board Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.16, s. 2 (opens a new window)

OIC 1204/2022

Function

The Board manages and defines the treatment of 220,000 geographical names of places and geographical features in Ontario. It consults with and advises agencies and individuals on decisions regarding deleting, cancelling and approving names. It recommends changes to existing official names in English, French and First Nation languages and collaborates with the Geographical Names Board of Canada on geographical feature and place names. The Ontario Geographic Names Board supplies information to ministries, agencies and individuals and submits recommendations to the Minister on the adoption, revision or cancellation of names of geographical features. The Board revises the official names record regarding the use of unincorporated place names.

Membership

The Board is composed of the Surveyor General, the Board Secretary appointed by the Minister, and five members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. A Chair and Vice-Chair may be designated by the Minister from among the members. Of the five (5) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council, generally one member is chosen to represent Francophone language matters and one member is chosen to represent First Nations matters. The five (5) members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor-in-Council represent as much as possible different areas of the province, different fields of expertise related to geographic naming, the different linguistic traditions found within Ontario, and matters of interest to First Nations of Ontario.

Term

There is no limitation in legislation.

Meetings

The board meets three to four times each year.

Remuneration

Appointees are remunerated according to Schedule A, Level 1 of the Agencies and Appointments Directive

Appointments & Vacancies