Islanders can now propose new names for more places on P.E.I.

A process is now available to let Prince Edward Islanders propose new place names, as long as there's not a municipal council in place to handle such matters.

The public can also ask for a change to an existing name, have a name removed that's no longer in use, or ask for a change in spelling, according to a provincial government news release issued Friday afternoon. 

The process applies only to unincorporated areas of the province, and not regions that fall under a municipal government with its own rules.

"Names are a very emotional topic that really have a lot of value to people," said Ryan Pineau, P.E.I.'s provincial tax commissioner, whose job includes being the province's representative on the Geographical Names Board of Canada, a national co-ordinating body.

He's been working on what the renaming process will involve since 2021.

Anyone proposing a new name must show they've done research and consulted with the community that will be affected, said Pineau. 

"It can be something that residents really feel a connection to. So whenever there is going to be something like a name change, you want the community to be engaged on that to make sure that where the name lands is something that everyone can be proud of." 

An advisory committee will help with more complicated name changes, Pineau said. Islanders can apply to join the naming advisory committee by visiting Engage PEI. 

Until now, Prince Edward Island was the only province that did not have an official renaming program, Pineau said.  

According to the province, proposals must also align with the guiding principles of the program:

The lack of a process arose as an issue in June 2022, when Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould called on the province to rename Savage Harbour in light of what he called the "unacceptable" use of a word so hurtful to Indigenous peoples. 

"We are not savages," Gould told dozens of people who had gathered at the reserve in Scotchfort for a news conference.

"Today I am formally calling on the premier and the province of P.E.I. to change the name and get rid of the word 'savage.' It is 2022. Islanders, as I've said before and I always say this, we can do better."