Toponymy
Toponymy is the science of studying and managing place names. It is also a term that designates all of the place names in a region or city. Every public space (roads, parks, public areas, waterways, public buildings, etc.) has a name that distinguishes it from the others.
The Gatineau's Gazetteer contains the officials toponyms reviewed by the Comité de toponymie municipal.
Access the Gazetteer (in French only)
Place names serve as location codes, helping to quickly and efficiently find a place in a geographic setting. From the cultural point of view, toponymy serves to focus the public. As expressions of identity, place names are witnesses to events, people and geographic features that feed into our collective memory.
Toponymy serves to strengthen the identity and sense of belonging of a community by giving it a trademark. Through its place names, Gatineau hopes to help define its unique nature and to stoke its residents' sense of pride.
Recognized for its quality of life, Gatineau is a city of 292,000 inhabitants. It is located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, and extends east and west of the Gatineau River.