A new fundraising campaign inspired by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s use of the word “hydronym” is aiming to increase public awareness and environmental protection for Lake Ontario.
London-based clothing company Branded By Collins has launched T-shirts featuring the slogan “My hydronyms are Lake & Ontario.” Part of the money raised from the sales will be donated to Swim Drink Fish Canada, a national environmental charity that promotes the protection and cleanliness of waterways.
According to the organization’s vice-president and waterkeeper Gregary Ford, the campaign offers a rare opportunity for Canadians to reconnect with Lake Ontario and take pride in the Great Lake.
The campaign was inspired by a dispute involving US President Donald Trump, who proposed renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America through an executive order. Carney responded by emphasizing that Canadians would continue to call the body of water Lake Ontario.
The term hydronym refers to the official name of a body of water. Carney’s unusual use of the word quickly attracted attention online, with many people searching for its meaning. Ford also admitted that he had to look it up despite working in water conservation, describing it as a unique and memorable word that drew attention to the importance of names and their meaning.
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