Selwyn Township council is set to discuss a potential renaming of Prince Andrew Island.
Councillors will be looking closer at the issue at the Tuesday meeting, as staff outline the process required to change the name of the small island located in the Otonabee River in Lakefield. The island was originally named after Prince Andrew, who lost his royal titles following controversy over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Council is also considering the potential renaming of nearby Gordonstoun Island, which was named after Gordonstoun School, a school attended by members of the British royal family including King Charles III and Prince Philip.
The renaming discussion follows recent developments involving Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the United Kingdom in which he was arrested over allegations that he used tax money to pay for massages and to rent hotel rooms. Mountbatten-Windsor has a historic connection to the community, having attended Lakefield College School as a student for several months in 1977. He later served as a trustee and honorary chair of the school’s foundation before those roles ended in 2019.
As part of the process, township officials have begun consultations with Curve Lake First Nation to discuss the potential name change and explore possible alternatives.
If council chooses to proceed with renaming the islands, the township would be required to submit an application to the Ontario Geographic Names Board, which reviews and approves official geographic name changes in the province.
(Written by Jordan Mercier)
