The Associated Press has instructed its journalists to continue using the name Lake Ontario, rather than adopting the name Lake America recently decreed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Global agency cites recognizability, history
In guidance circulated to staff and summarized in reports on Sept. 8, the AP said as a global news organisation it must use place names that are "easily recognisable to broad audiences." The memo directs reporters to refer to the body of water by its long-established name while acknowledging the U.S. president’s chosen name where relevant to a story.
The agency’s note underlines that no single authority governs the names of international bodies of water and distinguishes between situations in which U.S. federal naming changes apply only within the United States and those involving shared borders.
"Lake Ontario has carried that name for more than 400 years. The word 'Ontario' is derived from the northern Iroquoian language family,"
The AP guidance specifically references Canada’s position that it will not follow the U.S. executive order renaming the lake. The agency also points out that the province of Ontario took its name from the lake.
Where AP has changed — and where it hasn’t
The memo explains why the agency now uses Mount McKinley in its reporting: that peak lies entirely within U.S. territory and the president has latitude to change federal geographic names for domestic use. By contrast, the agency continues to use the name Gulf of Mexico, noting the gulf forms a shared border between Mexico and the United States.
| Place | AP usage | Reason given |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Ontario | Lake Ontario | Longstanding name; Canada not following U.S. change |
| Mount McKinley / Denali | Mount McKinley | Peak lies solely in U.S.; federal naming authority applies |
| Gulf of Mexico | Gulf of Mexico | Shared border with Mexico |
Local resonance across Ontario
In Ontario, the lake’s name carries both historical and practical weight. It has been the source for the province’s name and features in daily life from shipping and fisheries to recreation and municipal planning. For readers across the province — from Toronto’s harbourfront to smaller lakeside communities along the shore — the AP’s choice reinforces continuity in reporting and public discourse.
News organisations grapple with how to report when political authorities assert unilateral name changes that do not have international or local acceptance. The AP’s policy emphasises recognisability and context, directing journalists to explain any U.S. decree where it matters to a story while retaining the widely used name.
Implications for readers and reporters
The AP memo is a reminder of the differing authorities that determine geographic names. For everyday Ontarians, the decision affects how stories are framed and searched for online. Reporters writing for national and international audiences must weigh historical usage, official domestic decisions and the expectations of readers on both sides of the border.
- Recognition: The AP prioritises names familiar to international readers.
- Authority: The agency distinguishes places under U.S. federal naming authority from international or shared features.
- Context: When relevant, the AP will note the U.S. president’s naming choice rather than adopt it bluntly.
For Ontario’s newsrooms and residents, the AP stance aligns with the Canadian government’s decision not to adopt the U.S. renaming. It also underscores broader questions about how media outlets should handle politically driven changes to place names that cross borders or affect shared geography.
As reporting continues on the U.S. executive orders affecting place names, news consumers in Ontario can expect coverage that maintains familiar names while explaining any competing official claims when they bear on the story.
— Reporting from Ontario
