British Columbia
North part of the province was named New Caledonia and south of the Columbia River was named
Columbia. To avoid confusion with the Columbia in South America and the island of New Caledonia in the Pacific,
the province was renamed British Columbia in 1858.
Alberta
Was named after Queen Victoria's fourth daughter; Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, in 1882.
She was the wife of the govenor general at the time.
Saskatchewan
Derived from the Cree name for the Saskatchewan River, Ksiskatchewanisipi. Pioneers
shortened it and in 1882 the name was given to the district, which was then still part of the Northwest Territories.
Manitoba
From the Cree words Manitou Bou meaning "narrows of the Great Spirit". Named for
where Lake Manitoba narrows at its center.
Ontario
Come from the Huron words onitari, for lake, and io, for beautiful.
Quebec
Derived from and Algonquin word for "narrow passage". Originally referred to the narrowing
of the St. Lawrence River near what is now Quebec City. The British named the captured coluny Quebec in 1763.
Newfoundland
Was named by King Henry VII, who referred to John Cabot's discovery in 1497 as the "New Found
Launde".
Nova Scotia
Is latin for "New Scotland". The name was used in the royal charter that originally
granted the land to Sir William Alexander in 1621.
PEI
Was named in 1799 after a son of King George III, Prince Edward, commander-in-chief of British
North America at the time.
New Brunswick
Was named in 1784 in honour of the reigning monarch, King George III, who was also the Duke of
Brunswick.
Yukon Territory
Comes from the Loucheaux Indian word for great river,Yuchoo.
Northwest Territories
Refers to the location of the original territory.
Nunavut
"Our Land" in the Inuktitut language.
