Heritage Structure | Chapter 10 – Naming of Works, Buildings and Geographical Features

SCOPE

1. This chapter prescribes the procedure for naming works, buildings and geographical features that are located on federal land owned by DND. If the CAFCAF/DND is only a tenant in a federally owned building, the owner, for example Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), has responsibility for the naming of that building. Where a building is privately owned and leased to the CAF/DND, the owner’s concurrence shall be sought before naming a building.

PERSONAL NAMES

2. The use of personal names is restricted to:
   1. living or deceased members of the Royal Family or living or deceased former Governor Generals;
   2. deceased distinguished persons; and
   3. deceased former servicemen or servicewomen.
3. For the purpose of this order, a distinguished person is one who has rendered service of a rare or exceptionally high standard to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) or to the nation, and who will serve as an inspiration or example to future service personnel. Those who have been decorated for gallant or meritorious service are deemed to have achieved this high standard, although recommendations are not limited to such individuals. As well, any deceased former serviceman or servicewomen who displayed good character and appropriate conduct throughout their lifetime are also eligible for this honour.

OTHER THAN PERSONAL NAMES

4. The following categories of names other than personal names can also be given to works, buildings or geographical features:
   1. events which are well known because of CAF achievements;
   2. subjects of historical interest; or
   3. locations, emblems, etc., well known to or connected with the CAF.

APPROVING AUTHORITY

5. Geographical features. Approval of names for geographical features on military establishments is a joint CAF/DND and Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC) responsibility. For the CAF/DND, Commanders of commands or their delegated base/wing commanders will submit proposed names to the GNBC through the CAF/DND representative, ADM(IE)/DGRP/DRPPM 4-5, who is a member of the GNBC. A list of provincial members can be found on the Internet at: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/about/organization/organization-structure/geographical-names-board-of-canada/5743.
6. Works and buildings (including portions of buildings). An officer commanding a command approves the use of personal or other than personal names for works and buildings. A delegated officer can approve portions of buildings such as libraries, conference rooms, etc.

RECOMMENDATION FOR PERSONAL NAME

7. Recommendations related to paragraph 2 and 9 shall be forwarded to the officer commanding a Command or his delegated base/wing commander through the chain of command responsible for the structure, e.g., an Army lodger unit on a Royal Canadian Air Force base would submit a request to the base commander with information copies to their own chain of command, with full particulars, including:
   1. the full name, rank, decorations, date of birth and service number of the person selected;
   2. reasons for the selection or name change if applicable;
   3. a brief description or a biography of the selected person; and
   4. As a general rule, the next of kin or surviving relative of a deceased person should be:
      1. the spouse of the deceased,
      2. if there is no spouse, an adult child or grandchild of the deceased, or
      3. in all other cases, a parent, brother or sister of the deceased.
8. The full rank, names and decorations of individuals shall be cited in the official names of works and buildings. Thereafter, these works and buildings may be referred to in short form, e.g., the Colonel Richard Armoury.

RECOMMENDATION FOR OTHER THAN PERSONAL NAME

9. Recommendations for other than personal name shall be forwarded to the officer commanding a Command or his delegated base/wing commander through the chain of command responsible for the structure, e.g., an Army lodger unit on a Royal Canadian Air Force base would submit a request to the base commander with information copies to their own chain of command, with the following information:
   1. location of work, building/portion of building or geographical feature;
   2. reason for proposal or name change;
   3. origin and meaning of name proposed; and
   4. when proposing a locally used name for a geographical feature: names, addresses and telephone numbers of long-time residents of the area who can verify well established local usage.

WAITING PERIOD

10. For personal name recommendations for a geographical feature, it is required that those persons considered under paragraph 2.b. and 2.c. be deceased for a minimum of five years (this is GNBC minimum waiting period). This allows a passage of time to reflect on an individual's accomplishments, and provides the deceased's family with a suitable period of mourning for the death of a loved one. For all other recommendations, a waiting period of one year is required.

NAMING OF PLACES OF WORSHIP

11. Where it is desirable to designate a Place of Worship by a special name, the unit chaplain, after consultation with the place of worship committee and unit authorities, shall make a recommendation, through the command chaplain, to NDHQ for approval by the Chaplain General.

COMMUNICATION WITH NEXT OF KIN

12. Units shall not communicate with or seek the concurrence of the personage, next of kin or surviving relative of the personal name selected in accordance with paragraph 2. In order to avoid embarrassment, only Command/base/wing Headquarters are authorized to establish such communication. It is not uncommon to have names recommended by units changed during the staffing process.

PROMULGATION AND RECORDS NOTIFICATION

13. Commands or bases/wings shall keep an up-to-date list of all approved names. In addition, when a name is approved:
    1. the name shall be published in command, formation, base, station or unit orders;
    2. pertinent construction engineering records and documents, except those referred to in sub-paragraph c., shall be amended or replaced and a copy of the amendment or replacement shall be forwarded to NDHQ/ DGIEES (Director General Infrastructure and Environment Engineering Services)
    3. real property records and site plans shall be amended or replaced and a copy of the amendment or replacement shall be forwarded to NDHQ/Director General Real Property (DGRP);
    4. where a training area map or other DND map of the area exists, appropriate changes shall be marked on the latest edition of the map and forwarded to NDHQ/D Geospatial Intelligence (D Geo Int) for incorporation in the next edition of the map; and
    5. where a name or name change affects government or civilian agencies, the appropriate authorities shall be informed by the requesting unit, with an information copy to Command/Base/Wing Headquarters.

CHANGE OF APPROVED NAMES

14. Established names of geographical features that have proved acceptable and satisfactory should not be changed or altered. A request to change an existing name must be fully substantiated and shall be referred to Command or base/wing Headquarters for approval. A change in name may be authorized only where the direct and indirect costs of revising the records referred to in paragraph 13 are warranted.