Savage Harbour Renaming Process - FAQs
Why is Savage Harbour being renamed? Is it mandatory or optional?
Savage Harbour is being renamed because the Geographical Names Board of Canada called upon all provinces, including PEI, to change the names of communities that include terms considered outdated and demeaning. While the original intent of a place name may not have been intended to cause offense, words gain different meanings and understandings over time and can become harmful.
Why are the boundaries where they are?
The geographic boundaries conform with the boundaries on provincial taxation and civic addressing maps. The boundaries are also consistent with those defined in the Canadian Geographical Names Database. They follow the former Savage Harbour school district.
The boundaries for Savage Harbour include other place names (e.g. Point Deroche and French Village). Will those areas be renamed as well?
No. The geographic boundaries conform with the boundaries on provincial taxation and civic addressing maps. The specific community and bay as well as the area itself will be renamed for provincial taxation purposes and in the Canadian Geographical Names Database but all other communities within those boundaries will retain their names.
What is Savage Harbour bay?
In geographical terms, Savage Harbour bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water. The community was developed on the land sheltered from the prevailing conditions of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Didn’t Savage Harbour bay get renamed to Crowbush Cove?
No. The small craft harbour was renamed to Crowbush Cove Wharf Small Craft Harbour. This was a piece of federal infrastructure under federal naming authority and does not impact the name of the bay.
Does the same name need to apply to the community and the bay?
No, the same name does not need to apply to the community and the bay. The name of the community and the name of the bay can be different from each other.
How will the new name be chosen?
The community residents will vote on a new name, and the PEI Geographical Naming Advisory Committee will recommend the new name to the Province for approval.
What is the role of the Advisory Committee?
The PEI Geographical Naming Program is supported by an external advisory committee. The PEI Geographical Naming Advisory Committee is comprised of up to 5 core members and up to 3 floating members appointed from the community being named/renamed. All members are appointed through Engage PEI.
The purpose of the committee is to review and assess naming/renaming applications and make recommendations to the Government of PEI based on the application, supporting information, and engagement with the community for which a naming/renaming request has been submitted.
Can I suggest a new name for the community in this process? If so, how?
Submissions for naming suggestions are now closed. Proposed names will be voted on at Community Meeting #4.
The final list of names to be voted on is as follows:
Community:
- Heritage Harbour
- Seaside Harbour
- Shoal Harbour
- Wild Harbour
- Wild Winds Harbour
Bay:
- Heritage Harbour
- Seaside Harbour
- Shoal Harbour
- Wild Harbour
- Wild Winds Harbour
- Canavoy Bay
- Danger Bay
- North Canavoy Bay
What are the guiding principles for renaming?
The renaming process is guided by six principles that guide and inform the actions, behaviour, and decisions of the PEI Geographical Naming Advisory Committee:
- Meaningful Indigenous Involvement
- Accessibility and Clarity
- Informative and Transparent
- Inclusive and Respectful
- Mindful of Creating a Sense of Belonging
- Consistency and Alignment
In particular, when choosing a name, the following is a summary of the Geographical Names Board of Canada principles:
- Personal names are not accepted, unless exceptional circumstances exist.
- Preferred sources of new names (i.e. where no local names are in use) are appropriate descriptive words, names of pioneers, explorers and historical events connected with the area, names from Indigenous languages identified with the general area, and names of persons who died during war service.
- Names should be recognizable words or combinations of words and in good taste.
- A name is usually approved in a single language form in the Roman alphabet. Other forms may be sanctioned by the appropriate names authority. Names from languages other than English or French should be written in the best recognized orthography. Names for some selected features of pan-Canadian significance are recognized in both English and French for use on federal maps and texts.
- The spelling and accenting of names follow the rules of the language in which they are written.
- Duplication of names should be avoided if confusion may result.
- The generic term should be appropriate to the nature of the feature. It is recorded in either English or French by the names authority concerned.
- Qualifying words (e.g. "upper", "west branch", "nouveau") may be used to distinguish two or more features with identical specific forms.
Where and when are the in-person community meetings?
Community Meeting #1: Completed.
Community Meeting #2: Completed.
Community Meeting #3: Completed
Community Meeting #4: January 19, 2026, 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Mount Stewart Community Centre (Storm Date January 20, 2026)
Agenda: In-person ballot vote on final name recommendation by community residents (proof of ID and residence required).
Note: Mount Stewart Community Centre is located at 87 South Main Street, Mount Stewart, PE.
Registration is required and can be completed online here or with the button below. Attendance is limited to residents of Savage Harbour (see map below). Proof of residency and identification may be required at the door.
Only residents of Savage Harbour can vote on a potential new name for the community. In order to vote, residents must:
(a) be 18 years of age, on or before the date of the vote;
(b) be a Canadian citizen on or before the day of the vote;
(c) have been ordinarily resident
(i) in the province for the six months immediately preceding the date of the vote, and
(ii) in Savage Harbour on the date of the vote.
Who can attend the in-person community meetings?
These community meetings are open only to the residents of Savage Harbour.
Why are these in-person community meetings open only to residents of Savage Harbour?
The in-person community meetings are open only to residents of Savage Harbour to promote and encourage open discussion and dialogue about the name change with those who live in the community and who will be most directly impacted by the change.
How do I register for the in-person meetings?
Registration for community meetings is required. Registration for any and/or all meetings can be completed online here.
Who is eligible to vote on the new name?
Only residents of Savage Harbour can vote on a potential new name for the community. In order to vote, residents must:
(a) be 18 years of age, on or before the date of the vote;
(b) be a Canadian citizen on or before the day of the vote;
(c) have been ordinarily resident
(i) in the province for the six months immediately preceding the date of the vote, and
(ii) in Savage Harbour on the date of the vote.
Who makes the final decision on the new name?
The final decision on the new name will be made by the Province based on recommendations from the Geographical Naming Advisory Committee that consider the application, information, feedback, and potential new name chosen by community residents.
How will I be informed of the final decision on the new name?
Community residents will be invited to attend an in-person follow-up session following the final decision. The final decision on a new name will also be publicly announced by the Province once it is made.
Where can I find more information or updates?
An information package with more detailed information about the renaming process and the community meetings has been mailed out to residents. Anyone can find more information and updates online here.
How can I submit a request for another community to be named/renamed?
Geographic naming requests are processed through the Tax Administration and Property Records Division of the Department of Finance and are approved by the Province.
For more complex applications, the Geographical Naming Advisory Committee coordinates the naming process and prepares a recommendation to Government for approval. If you want to request a new name for a community, you must complete an application for approval. You can complete the application online by submitting the form found here.
Return to Community-Specific Renaming Engagement Process.
Note: The provincial naming process applies to unincorporated areas of the province only. Geographic areas that fall within municipal boundaries are subject to the naming process under the Municipal Government Act.