OTTAWA — Google Maps has updated to display “Lake America” when people in the United States search for the term.
Canadians will still see it written out as Lake Ontario — unless they specifically search for the term Lake America.
The search giant said in a post on its corporate website that it made the change because the U.S. government’s geographic names database has formally changed the name of the lake.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to rename the body of water Lake America.
The move came just days after trade talks broke down between Washington and Ottawa, and Canada announced retaliatory tariffs.
Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to Trump’s executive order by saying Canadians know Lake Ontario will always be known by its original name.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 30, 2026.
Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
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