Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia


Naming Places

The Holy Ascension Russo-Orthodox Church located in Wasel. Why are place names important? What do place names tell us about a specific location? How did Alberta's towns and geographical features get their names, and who gets to choose them today? These are just a few of the questions that the Naming Places section of this website addresses.

Beginning with a definition of the study of toponymy, this section contains a number of short, thematic essays to introduce the major historical phenomena that have influenced the process of place-naming in Alberta. Finally, this section briefly addresses the process of place-naming outside of Alberta and around the rest of the world.


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            For more on place names of Alberta, visit Peel’s Prairie Provinces.

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