Local officials push back as maps rename Lake Ontario
President Donald Trump issued an executive order renaming Lake Ontario "Lake America." Mayors in upstate New York have publicly criticized the change, saying the historic name is tied to Indigenous heritage and local tourism. Ontario Premier Doug Ford installed a $25,000 bilingual sign in Winona, Ontario that reads "Lake Ontario, now and always" as a response to the rename. Google Maps now labels the lake as "Lake America" for U.S. users, and Apple Maps has made the same change, while MapQuest continues to show the traditional name. Recent surveys show only a small share of U.S. adults support the renaming.
Why it matters
The dispute affects cross‑border tourism, local identity and how digital maps label a major shared waterway.
How this story developed
- Aug 30 Trump uses AI video to claim rename of Lake Ontario amid Canada trade feud
- Aug 31 Trump warned the duty on Canadian automobiles will rise to 50% on Jan. 1 and offered tariff relief to firms that relocate to the United States.
- Sep 3 Apple Maps switched to the new lake name for U.S. users.
- Sep 6 Ontario Premier Doug Ford commissioned a $25,000 bilingual sign affirming the lake’s historic name.
