Help Shape the Names of Ontario: Apply to Join the Ontario Geographic Names Board

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 If you’re passionate about place names, cultural heritage, Indigenous knowledge, or the map of Ontario itself, here’s your chance to make a lasting impact. The Ontario Geographic Names Board (OGNB) is now accepting applications for part-time members - and perhaps its next Chair - as part of an exciting opportunity to help shape the linguistic and geographic landscape of Canada’s most populous province.

🗓 Apply by: July 3, 2025
📍 Position type: Part-time
💰 Remuneration: $150 per diem
🔗 Application link and details

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🧭 About the Ontario Geographic Names Board

Established under the Ontario Geographic Names Board Act, the OGNB is the official provincial authority that reviews, advises, and makes recommendations about the names of geographical features and unincorporated places across Ontario. These include names in English, French, and Indigenous languages, with a commitment to cultural respect, linguistic accuracy, and historical relevance.

The board consists of seven members, including experts in:

• Toponymy, onomastics, and linguistics

• Geography and cartography

• Ontario history

• Geomatics (GIS, mapping, surveying)

• Francophone and Indigenous affairs

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👥 What You'll Do

As a Board Member, your role would include:

• Attending up to four meetings annually (typically three virtual, one in-person)

• Reviewing naming proposals and policies

• Engaging with communities and stakeholders

• Participating in sub-committees or working groups

• Promoting inclusive and respectful geographic naming practices

Meetings are typically held in Peterborough, but members may attend from across Ontario. Travel and accommodations are covered according to provincial guidelines.

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✅ Who Should Apply?

Ideal candidates are:

• Experienced in name studies, cultural geography, or related disciplines

• Knowledgeable about Ontario’s diverse linguistic and cultural traditions

• Committed to Indigenous consultation and reconciliation

• Skilled in group facilitation, impartial deliberation, and policy review

Whether you’re a linguist, historian, Indigenous knowledge keeper, surveyor, geographer, or community advocate, your voice can help preserve and promote the stories that names carry.

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🤝 Diversity and Inclusion

The OGNB is committed to reflecting the full diversity of Ontario. Applications are encouraged from members of Indigenous, Francophone, and equity-deserving communities, as well as young professionals, academics, and retired experts who want to give back.

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📌 How to Apply

View the official posting and submit your application via the Public Appointments Secretariat by July 3, 2025:
👉 Public Appointments Application Portal

Be part of a team where names matter - and help ensure they tell the full story of Ontario’s places and people.

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