Strange, Funny and Odd Names of Towns in Canada
I was having a discussion the other day about funny city names around the world. There is a Batman and Middlefart in Denmark, Phi Phi (pronounced PeePee) in Thailand, Worms in Germany, Phuket (pronounced Pooh-kett but reading it is another story.) I know its obvious, but Bangkok is pretty funny when you think about it. Whenever I mention Placencia in Belize to people at home, they always raise their eyebrows and say “what was that name you just said?”
Anyway, I was thinking that these places are most likely perfectly normal names in their native tongue.
But what about those countries that speak English as a first language? What excuse do they have for the ridiculous names that they have used for their towns.
In my research, I have discovered that Canada is the worst offender when it comes to naming our towns. I wonder if it is all of that cold weather that affected the brains of our countries founders?
When I started writing this post, I was going to write about funny cities and towns that I have visited in my travels, but then I realized that they have nothing on Canada. We have come up with some pretty strange names for our cities and towns.
Here is a list of ridiculous, funny, strange and oddly named cities and towns from my home country, Canada.
For this post, I saved the best for last so we are starting with #10
10 – St Louis du Ha! Ha!, Quebec Yes, the exclamation marks are part of its name. Not a definite theory how it got its name. Only that haha is an old French word for obstacle and some guy named Louis was one of the first settlers in the area. I don’t care, its fun!
9 – SexSmith, Alberta- Its origin isn’t as interesting as I was hoping for, but it still makes for a great name. Named after the famous fur trader David Sexsmith. There are blacksmiths and metalsmiths but a Sexsmith would be far more entertaining.
8-WaWa, Ontario Comes from the Ojibwe word “wewe” for wild goose. Why Why go to Wa Wa? It has a 28 foot high statue of a Canada Goose, It is located in Beautiful Northern Ontario near Lake Superior Provincial Park. The largest freshwater lake in the world (by area that is. It is 3rd in volume).
7 – Climax-Saskatchewan We obviously spend way too much time indoors up here in Canada. This town is name after another Climax. Climax Minnesota. Can’t let the Americans have all of the fun, we want Climax too.
6 - Forget Saskachewan. Named after a Lieutenant Governor, Amedee E. Forget. They thought that we would all remember this guy, but really….does anyone know who past Lieutenant Governors are? Now it just looks like a forgettable name.
5-Come by Chance, Newfoundland. I couldn’t find the origin of this name, but if you happen to come upon it by chance, let me know
4-Vulcan, Alberta- In honor of the new Star Trek Movie, I had to mention this one. They actually had the world premiere of the new Star Trek movie there for all of the true trekkies. Vulcan hosts an annual galaxy fest, a start trek walking tour, it has a 31 foot replica of the Vulcan Star Ship and a Vulcan reality game. Big Bonus, Leonard Nemoy finally visited Vulcan for the first time just the other day. Oh yeah, it is on the map baby.
3-Nameless Cove – Newfoundland- Newfoundland again? The story here… They used to be called Flowers Cove, but another town stole the name, registered it and told them that they had to come up with a new name. Well, they didn’t do a very good job. Today they are known as Nameless Cove
2-Spread Eagle, Newfoundland Located near Conception Bay it has a great view of the Dildo Arm. Does it get any better than this?
Dildo, Newfoundland Canada
1-Dildo, Newfoundland- Many theories about this name from being named after a Spanish Sailor, to a ships part, to a cactus tree. I think that the guys on the East Coast were just having a laugh. If you know any theories let me know.
Honorable Mentions…strange, funny, odd they all still meet the criteria.
Frogmore, Ontario Dorking-Ontario, Bastard Ontario and Finger Manitoba. I grew up in Otterville Ontario, People laughed at me when I told them the name of my hometown.
So there you have it, my list of Strange, Funny, Odd and humurous names of cities right here in Canada. There are hundreds around the world, share them with us!
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We always like the name of Spuzzum in BC.. A town that if you sneeze while driving on the highway you miss it!
Don’t forget Balzac,AB!
Haha great list – I honestly didn’t believe you about ‘St. Louis du Ha! Ha!’ – I googled it to be sure I wasn’t being dooped. Turns out that’s very true, and very weird.
Saskatchewan has quite a few weird town names. My Dad is From Semens (in sk)…yea, try and tell people that without chucklin’ a bit. Then there’s Moose Jaw Saskatchewan. And my personal fave, Beaver Saskatchewan.
Thanks for the smiles
try plunkett saskatchewan lol…notice sask names are all two words wynyard(win-yard) wishart, foam lake, rose town, moose jaw, maple creek lol
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Haha seems like Newfoundland is the place to be for oddnameologists!
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I still love Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump, Alberta and Leading Tickles, NL
Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump is a winner for sure! I love how literal and creative we are in naming our towns in Canada.
lol I laughed at forget Saskatchewan and ‘nameless’ cove? ok..
. I’m pretty they knew what they were naming when they were coming up with names I mean cmon they’re people just like us, no? Anyway interesting post, take care.
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Oops sry about that made a ‘little’ mistake in my comment
_
Two Hills, Alberta and Hairy Hill, Alberta
There’s a place in Ontario called “Petawawa.” Most people don’t believe me that its a real place when I talk about that town.
Two Hills, AB and Hairy Hill, AB
Gander, Newfieland. (Fun to say.)
And here’s a doozy: Cold Lake, Alberta. Known for it’s -50°C winters without wind chill, and winters from September to April.
Awesome! Don’t forget about Conception Bay, NFLD too. Flin Flon, MB always makes me laugh too. There are also all kinds of crazy places around us in Ireland right now as well. Our favorite is Kilcock.
Conception Bay, that one made me laugh. Our founding fathers definitely knew how to name a place!
It’s one of the things I love most about Canada – well, that’s not true, the things I love most are the land, the maple syrup, the people, and bears….still…I went to Moose Jaw just because of the name…A name is a funny thing especially if it’s ha!ha!
I almost forgot the poutine….
I’m from Rocky Mountain House, AB. People never believe me when I tell them the name of my town. YES it is a town. It was a fur trading post, or “house” on the edge of the Rockies. It’s now a town of 7,000 and we surely do not all live in the same house.
That is a cute name for a town. I like it. I don’t know, we Canadian’s are pretty friendly, I could see us all living under one big roof:-)
nique Words and Phrases of CanadaCanadian Food Our Lack of IdentityStrange and Funny Names of Places in CanadaAnd now to end with a monologue that was huge in Canada in the 90?s. It is from a Beer ad
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How is Punkydoodles Corners, ON not on this list? Medicine Hat? I live near Petawawa, which isn’t too far from Killaloe (pronounced Kill-a-loo) and Dry Lake.
Hi Jessica! that is awesome, I have never heard of Punkydoodles. thanks for sharing some excellent names with us all!
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Fingringhoe, England is my #1 in the world. My 5 favorite in Pennsylvania are here: http://kooztop5.blogspot.com/2011/11/top-5-most-embarrassing-pennsylvania.html. Love your comments for each town name, by the way–hilarious!
Thanks for sharing Kooz, that’s hilarious and thanks for reading, I’ll check out your post for sure!
Thanks debndave! And thanks for checking out mine as well!