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The B.C. Geographical Names Office (BCGNO) is considering rescinding the name “Trutch” from four more locations across the province over their namesake’s racist legacy.
Joseph Trutch, B.C.’s first lieutenant-governor, is ill-famed for his policies targeting Indigenous people, including drastically reducing the size of reserves and refusing to let Indigenous people purchase land from non-Indigenous people.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport told CBC News it received the request to rename the sites in August 2021, from an individual concerned about Trutch’s actions.
The sites under review include Mount Trutch near Golden, B.C., Trutch Island in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, Trutch, B.C., and Trutch Creek.
Trutch, B.C., is an abandoned locality near the Alaska Highway. Along with Trutch Creek, both are located approximately 250 kilometres north of Fort St. John, B.C.
As it decides what to do, the province said it is engaging with local governments, First Nations and organizations that may be affected by changing the names.
First Nations being notified include the 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 notified in a Dec. 4 letter from the BCGNO. It was included in a Jan. 8 board meeting and no comments were made.
The letter states that Trutch “believed First Nations had no legitimate claim to the land and determined it was unnecessary to negotiate agreements or offer compensation to extinguish Aboriginal title.”
“The BCGNO recognizes the potential harm and offense associated with continuing to commemorate Joseph Trutch through official geographical names,” it continues.
The Trutch name has already been removed from a street in Vancouver, which was renamed in June 2025 to šxʷməθkʷəy̓əmasəm Street or Musqueamview Street in recognition of the Musqueam First Nation.
Richmond and Victoria also renamed streets in their cities that commemorated Trutch, and the University of Victoria renamed a residence building.
The ministry said no replacement names have been submitted for the four new sites. If rescinded, the old names would no longer be used officially, but would be maintained in online name records.
The ministry said the province will be in an engagement period until March 6, and will use responses to determine next steps.
It’s not the first time the province has considered removing controversial names from landmarks.
In November 2021, it proposed the names of Mount Bedaux and Bedaux Pass be rescinded due to French-American industrialist Charles Bedaux’s ties to Nazi Germany.
Bedaux led a famous expedition through northern Alberta and B.C. in 1934, but was arrested years later for aligning business interests with the Vichy government in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War.
In 1944, he killed himself at a Florida prison while awaiting trial. The ministry said a decision on possible changes to Mount Bedaux and Bedaux Pass is anticipated later this year.
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