Renaming Muskoka Road 12
Background
Throughout Ontario and beyond, municipalities have begun to recognize how systemic racism and discrimination are embedded in place names and public and municipal assets. In response, municipalities are undertaking asset renaming projects to better reflect community values and demonstrate how residents collectively choose to honour the past and shape the future.
On October 6, 2023, after many months of planning, the District of Muskoka, in partnership with Wahta Mohawks First Nation and the Township of Muskoka Lakes unveiled the new name for Muskoka Road 38 as Kanien’kehá:ka Iohatátie, which means Mohawk People Road in the Mohawk language. More about this renaming project can be found here.
Relying on lessons learned, the District of Muskoka, in partnership with Moose Deer Point First Nation and the Township of Georgian Bay, is now embarking on a second road renaming project to rename Twelve Mile Bay Road (Muskoka Road 12).
Both of these road renaming initiatives are projects of the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT).
Overview
Both District Council and the Muskoka Area Indigenous Leadership Table (MAILT) felt renaming Twelve Mile Bay Road provided an opportunity to strengthen the broader community’s understanding of the Moose Deer Point First Nation history, language and culture and help non-Indigenous residents on their path to reconciliation.
Twelve Mile Bay Road connects Moose Deer Point First Nation on the coast of Georgian Bay, to Hwy 400.
Map courtesy of Muskoka GeoHub
The partnership to rename Twelve Mile Bay Road anticipates benefits from this renaming effort to include:
- Increased community awareness of Moose Deer Point First Nation culture, language and history;
- Increased community awareness of, and commitment to, Truth and Reconciliation, as well as the Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s 94 Calls to Action; and
- Stronger Indigenous-municipal relations.
Choosing a New Road Name
The high-level process and District Council-approved Guiding Principles for this road renaming project are outlined in this March 2025 report to District Council on pages five and six.
Moose Deer Point First Nation will consult directly with community members over a three-month period in early 2026 to choose and propose up to three potential new road names for Twelve Mile Bay Road. A new name will then be recommended by a tri-council committee involving elected officials from the three governing bodies and proposed to Muskoka District Council for a formal resolution, which is required by the Ministry of Transportation.
Similar to other District roads throughout Muskoka, Twelve Mile Bay Road will retain its number – Muskoka Road 12 – but will showcase a new name. For example, Muskoka Road 26 is also known as Mortimer’s Point Road.
The partnership looks forward to updating the community in late 2026 when a new name is selected!
Supports for Property Owners
While this is an exciting project and undertaking, the partnership recognizes there will be questions and impacts to community members. The District has established a working group to guide this project and offer resources and support during this road renaming, especially to impacted property owners. Visit this page often for updates and resources to be shared later in 2026, including:
- Regular updates as the project progresses;
- A Resident Toolkit, that will include information about who needs to be updated and how to update addresses, as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs);
- Information about mail forwarding options with Canada Post;
- A dedicated project manager for anyone needing more detailed information or one-on-one support; and
- Goodwill payments to offset associated costs incurred by for those impacted by the Muskoka Road 38 name change.
