What's in a Name? History

Many are familiar with the place names listed below, but are unaware that each denotes a very specific period in the history of the province of Ontario.

Pays d'en Haut (1500s-1763) From initial discovery to France's loss to the English in the Seven Years' War, Ontario was a wilderness region of New France referred to as "the upper country".

Quebec (1763-1791) After the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the British crown took over New France, named it Quebec, and included the large colony into it's already substantial North American holdings.

Upper Canada (1791-1841) The American Revolution, ending in 1883, encouraged thousands of loyalists to move north to Quebec (which remained a part of the Crown). With this new influx of settlers came a demand for English laws and government - as opposed to the French civil system still in operation in the colony. The Constitution Act of 1791 divided Quebec into Upper and Lower Canada, and provided Upper Canadians with their own Lieutenant Governor and legal system.

Canada West (1841-1867) Upper and Lower Canada were rejoined in 1841 as the Province of Canada in a political and cultural attempt to overpower the then dominant French population (as well as any potential rebels on both sides). Although the province was now unified, each region remained distinct as Canada West, and Canada East.

Ontario (1867- ) With Confederation came yet another separation as the Province of Canada was divided into roughly the Ontario and Quebec we know today. Ontario's borders were finally established to the north and west by 1912.

Maps depicting borders in 1774 and 1791

Maps depicting borders in 1867 and 1912

Name changes also apply to the smaller scale of villages and cities:

Shade's Mills (1816-1827) Named after Absalom Shade who was hired by founder William Dickson to manage and superintend the new settlement in Dumfries. Shade quickly established a saw and grist mill as well as a shop and home for himself and his family.

Galt (1827-1973) For many settlements, the establishment of a post office is a big deal. It's an opportunity to put your name on the map (and subsequently make it easier for everyone to find you and do business with you). Many settlements stick with the name they've started with, while others take this opportunity to change theirs to something else.* William Dickson decided to change the name of Shade's Mills to Galt after Scottish poet and friend, John Galt.

Cambridge (1973- ) In 1973 the city of Galt, the towns of Preston and Hespeler, and the hamlet of Blair amalgamated to become Cambridge.

*Some communities didn't have a choice in the matter once they realized that they share the same name as another settlement that already received a post office. You can't have two Burwick, Canada Wests: So the community just north of what is now Toronto changed their name to Woodbridge in 1855.

Sources
Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 2014 "Absalom Shade"
Archives of Ontario, 2011 "The Changing Shape of Ontario" (Economic Atlas of Ontario / Atlas Économique de l'OntarioW. G. Dean, Editor/ Directeur; G. J. Mathews, Cartographer/ CartographePrinted 1969 by University of Toronto Press for the Government of Ontario)
City of Vaughan, "A Brief History of Woodbridge"

Further Reading
Canadian Encyclopedia, "Seven Years' War"
Canadian Encyclopedia, "Durham Report"
Canadian Museum of History, 2014 "Virtual Museum of New France"