The B. C. Geographical Names Office (BCGNO) has officially removed the name “Trutch” from four locations in the province because of its racist history.
Joseph Trutch, who was B. C.’s first lieutenant-governor, is known for his harmful policies against Indigenous people, including significantly shrinking reserve lands and preventing Indigenous people from buying land from non-Indigenous individuals.
A letter sent to the Peace River Regional District (PRRD), along with information on the BCGNO’s website, indicated that names were removed on Aug. 12 after discussions with First Nations and local governments.
The four locations include the deserted area of Trutch and Trutch Creek in the Northern Rockies, located about 250 kilometers north of Fort St. John, Mount Trutch near Golden in B. C.’s Interior, and Trutch Island in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine.
“The proposal to rescind the names was also supported by the First Peoples Cultural Council and Fort Nelson First Nation,” states the letter sent to the PRRD.
“No concerns or objections to not having an official replacement name were submitted during the comment period.”
Mike Eling, executive director of Fort Nelson First Nation, noted that Trutch’s actions regarding Indigenous land rights have caused ongoing harm and systemic inequalities that affect First Nations communities today.
“The removal of his name is an important step in acknowledging this history and moving toward reconciliation,” he wrote in an emailed statement.
“We look forward to working with the Province of British Columbia, alongside the other Treaty 8 Nations, on future naming proposals that reflect our shared traditional connections to these lands.”
![]()
The University of Victoria removed Trutch’s name from one of its residence buildings. (Wikipedia/Library and Archives Canada)
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport previously told it got a request to remove these names back in August 2021 from someone concerned about Trutch’s actions.
The Trutch name has already been taken off a street in Vancouver; it was renamed in June 2025 to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street or Musqueamview Street as a nod to the Musqueam First Nation.
Richmond and Victoria also renamed streets honoring Trutch, while the University of Victoria changed a residence building’s name as well.
According to a letter dated Aug. 14, online records will still be available through a web app that includes details about their previous official status.
However, these names will no longer show up on provincial or federal maps. The BCGNO states there are no current plans for new official names since no proposals have been made for replacements.
The BCGNO mentions that these places will likely continue being identified using GPS coordinates or references to nearby named locations until a new naming proposal is submitted and approved formally.
Subscribe to CBC’s Fort St. John Weekly for a roundup of the best news and stories from B. C.’s Peace and Northern Rockies.
Source link
Source link
