“Canada’s official names are stored in the Canadian Geographical Names Data Base (CGNDB).  The online query tool on our website provides many ways to search for a current or former official name.  You can query by name or by geographical coordinates.  You can also search for a name by its unique five letter alphabetical code which is linked to a name record, or by rectangular area (bounding box).  You can also select a name from an alphabetical list of all the available names. …Place names, also called geographical names, or toponyms, are the names we use to refer to the places and geographical features around us.  They appear on maps and road signs, and we use them every day to give directions or describe where we are.  Canada’s naming authority is the Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC).  The GNBC Secretariat is located at Natural Resources Canada.”

Look around this site for the different tools they offer including:

• Selected Origins of Canadian geographical names
• Information for translators
• Canadian society for the Study of Names
• And links to other websites