The B.C. Geographical Names Office (BCGNO) is contemplating removing the name “Trutch” from four additional locations in British Columbia due to the negative connotations associated with the individual the locations are named after.
Joseph Trutch, the first lieutenant-governor of B.C., is infamous for implementing discriminatory policies towards Indigenous communities, such as significantly reducing reserve sizes and prohibiting Indigenous land transactions with non-Indigenous individuals.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport confirmed receiving a renaming request for these sites in August 2021, initiated by a concerned individual highlighting Trutch’s controversial actions.
The locations currently under review include Mount Trutch near Golden, B.C., Trutch Island in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, Trutch, B.C., and Trutch Creek, an abandoned area situated approximately 250 kilometers north of Fort St. John, B.C., near the Alaska Highway.
The provincial authorities are consulting with local governments, First Nations, and impacted organizations while assessing the potential renaming process. First Nations groups notified include Fort Nelson First Nation, Dene Tha’ First Nation, Prophet River First Nation, Doig River First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, and Horse Lake First Nation.
The Peace River Regional District was officially informed through correspondence dated December 4 from the BCGNO. The matter was discussed during a board meeting on January 8 without any comments made.
The BCGNO’s letter highlights Trutch’s dismissive stance towards Indigenous land claims and emphasizes the need to address the offense caused by continuing to honor Joseph Trutch through official geographical names.
Previously, the name “Trutch” was removed from a street in Vancouver, which was renamed in June 2025 as Å¡xÊ·mÉθkÊ·ÉyÌÉmasÉm Street or Musqueamview Street in recognition of the Musqueam First Nation. Similarly, Richmond and Victoria have also renamed streets, and the University of Victoria changed the name of a residential building to distance themselves from Trutch’s legacy.
As of now, no replacement names have been proposed for the four locations under review. If the name “Trutch” is revoked, the old names will be officially discontinued but preserved in online records.
The engagement period will continue until March 6, with feedback collected to guide future actions. This initiative represents the province’s ongoing efforts to address controversial names linked to historical figures. Another case involved considering the removal of Mount Bedaux and Bedaux Pass names due to Charles Bedaux’s connections with Nazi Germany, with a decision expected later this year.