The Canadian Hydrographic Service (CHS) has announced that they are removing the name of Trutch Island from charts but has not yet provided a replacement name. Trutch Island is a small island located in Estavan Sound and is part of the Estevan Group of islands on the North Coast of British Columbia. For many years, the island hosted a radar and radio communications site featuring large, prominent antennas.
Who was Trutch? Trutch Island was named after Sir Joseph Trutch, the first Lieutenant Governor of Confederated British Columbia who served from 1871 to 1876. He left office in 1890 and returned to England, where he died in 1904. In 2007, a panel of historians included Trutch in their list of the ten worst Canadians in history. The actions and statements made by Trutch were shown to be racists and detrimental to native peoples.
Why the Name Change? Dropping the name Trutch or changing the name Trutch found at other locations is considered a step forward in the journey of reconciliation. It is said that Trutch held nothing but disdain for Indigenous people. Trutch believed that First Nations had no legitimate claim to land and that it was unnecessary to negotiate agreements or offer compensation. He drastically reduced the size of reserves by 90% and refused to let Indigenous people purchase land from non-Indigenous people. 
Other Named Locations Rescinded. The Trutch name has already been removed from a street in Vancouver, which was renamed in June 2025 to Musqueamview Street in recognition of the Musqueam First Nation. Storyboards along the street explain Trutch’s history and why the street was once named after him. Additional storyboards will be added over time to preserve the earlier history.
Richmond and Victoria also renamed streets in their cities that commemorated Trutch, and the University of Victoria renamed a residence building. Though the old names are no longer officially used, they are maintained in online name records. Trutch Street in Victoria is now Su’it Street (meaning truth), and Trutch Ave. in Richmond is now Point Avenue.
The BC Geographical Names Office officially removed the name of Mount Trutch near Golden BC, a new name is yet to be formalized. The Geographical Names Office has also proposed a name change for Trutch, BC, an abandoned site near the Alaska Highway.
Preserving History. As Steven Point, BC’s 28th Lieutenant Governor has stated, “we shouldn’t bury our history just because we find it distasteful.” We shouldn’t erase history by pretending such attitudes didn’t exist. Through storyboards, articles, and documents, we can learn from history and move forward. It is also helpful when studying history to keep in mind the context of the times vs. the attitudes and context of the present.
Photo Credits:
Header Map – Coastal Explorer
Trutch Island Map – CHS
Trutch Portrait – Royal BC Museum
Musqueamview St. sign – CTV News
Su’it Street sign – ChekNews
Mountain Scene – Alaska Hwy Photo Gallery
