Geomatics and Remote Sensing

 

Manitoba Geographical Names Program

Mission and Roles 

Mandate

To provide a provincial geographical names authority for the enhancement, maintenance and protection of Manitoba's geographical nomenclature.

The mandate is accomplished through the development and implementation of policies and procedures, the establishment and monitoring of toponymic quality control in government documents, the research for and processing of decisions on new and established names, the provision of a names information centre, and the management of the Commemorative Names Project.

Rationale

The Canadian Permanent Committee on Geographical Names (CPCGN) is responsible for the names of Canada's natural and cultural features and for research into their origin and usage. Its roots date back to 1897 when the government recognized the need for an authority to address the complexity, standardization and stabilization of the names recorded on official maps and plans.

Privy Council Order #1990-549 dated March 22, 1990 sets up the terms of reference for the CPCGN: 'Geographical name decisions approved by the appropriate federal, provincial or territorial authority, according to its respective jurisdiction, shall become decisions of the Committee.'

In Manitoba, the authority for officially naming geographical features rests with the Minister of Natural Resources, which authority has been delegated to the Provincial Toponymist as the member on the CPCGN and the position responsible for the Manitoba Geographical Names Program.