Place Names of Ontario

William A. Waiser is a professor of history at the University of
Saskatchewan, and the author of Saskatchewan’s Playground: A History
of Prince Albert National Park and Park Prisoners: The Untold Story of
Western Canada’s National Parks, 1915–1946.

In his latest delightful toponymic resource, Alan Rayburn, the “name
guy,” whose monthly columns on Canadian toponymy have become a staple
of Canadian Geographic magazine, tackles the toponymic history of
Canada’s largest province, describing some 2300 of Ontario’s 57,000
place names. Each entry provides a clear, concise description of the
origin of the name, its pronunciation (if necessary), its location, and
any changes over time; historical tidbits are also included.

Place Names of Ontario confirms the preponderant influence of Great
Britain on the formative years of the province. It also serves to
underscore that Ontario was once Native land. But beyond being a
valuable reference tool, Place Names of Ontario is an entertaining read.