The B.C. Geographical Names Office is contemplating removing the name “Trutch” from four additional locations in the province due to the racist history associated with the namesake, Joseph Trutch. Trutch, who served as B.C.’s first lieutenant-governor, is notorious for implementing discriminatory policies against Indigenous communities, such as significantly reducing reserve sizes and prohibiting Indigenous land purchases from non-Indigenous individuals.
The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Sport confirmed that a request was received in August 2021 to rename these sites, following concerns raised by an individual regarding Trutch’s actions. The locations under review include Mount Trutch near Golden, Trutch Island in the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, Trutch, B.C., and Trutch Creek, an abandoned area near the Alaska Highway approximately 250 kilometers north of Fort St. John, B.C.
While deliberating on the next steps, the province is actively engaging with local governments, First Nations, and relevant organizations to assess the potential impact of changing these names. First Nations communities informed about the renaming process 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 formally notified by the BCGNO in a letter dated December 4. The board meeting held on January 8 did not yield any comments on the matter. The letter highlighted Trutch’s beliefs that Indigenous peoples had no rightful claims to the land and deemed negotiations or compensation for extinguishing Aboriginal title unnecessary.
Acknowledging the negative connotations associated with commemorating Joseph Trutch through official geographical names, the BCGNO emphasized the potential harm and offense caused by retaining such names. Previously, Trutch’s name was removed from a street in Vancouver, which was renamed in June 2025 to Å¡xÊ·mÉθkÊ·ÉyÌÉmasÉm Street or Musqueamview Street in honor of the Musqueam First Nation. Richmond and Victoria also renamed streets, and the University of Victoria renamed a residential building to break ties with Trutch’s legacy.
No replacement names have been proposed for the four sites currently under review. Should the names be rescinded, they would no longer hold official status but would be retained in online records. The province is seeking public feedback until March 6 to determine the following course of action based on responses received.
This initiative echoes past efforts by the province to reconsider controversial names associated with landmarks. In a similar vein, the proposal to revoke the names of Mount Bedaux and Bedaux Pass was put forth in November 2021 due to Charles Bedaux’s connections to Nazi Germany. Charles Bedaux, a French-American industrialist, was involved with the Vichy government in Nazi-occupied France during World War II and later took his own life while in custody in 1944. The ministry anticipates a decision on potential changes to Mount Bedaux and Bedaux Pass later this year.