Chairperson of the Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC)

Do you have a passion for learning about or promoting knowledge of Canada’s geography and place names and Indigenous languages, history, and culture? Are you looking for a unique opportunity to lead a national board with a range of governmental, Indigenous, and industry stakeholders across the country?

The Geographical Names Board of Canada (GNBC) is seeking a Chairperson of Canada’s national coordinating body for official place names. This is a unique part-time opportunity to help shape geographical awareness in Canada by facilitating working relationships with diverse stakeholders, advancing Indigenous knowledge, and promoting broader public interest in Canada’s place names.

Application deadline: June 12, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET

Submit your application to geonames-toponymes@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca.

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About the Geographical Names Board of Canada

The GNBC is established through an Order in Council as Canada’s national coordinating body for official place names. The Board is composed of members from each provincial and territorial naming authority and several federal departments and agencies, each with specific authority and responsibility for their respective jurisdictions. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources appoints the Chairperson of the GNBC and three Indigenous Advisors. Working together as a collaborative multi-jurisdictional national body, the GNBC coordinates efforts to ensure that geographical names are consistently managed in Canada.

Official geographical names provide a standardized, widely recognized and easily understandable reference to places, locations, and geographical features. Recently, energies of the GNBC have been directed towards adopting and understanding Indigenous place names and language origins; ensuring the national geographical names database is authoritative, standardized and interoperable; modernizing principles and procedures for place naming in Canada; and facilitating the implementation of the GNBC Strategic Plan. The GNBC Chairperson is responsible for providing leadership to the Board to ensure focused and productive discussions while facilitating and enabling the Board as a whole to effectively coordinate geographical names in Canada.

For more information on the GNBC, please visit the Geographical Names Board of Canada.

Position: Key activities

The GNBC Chairperson will serve as a voting member of the GNBC, and actively contribute to the Board’s discussions and activities by:

  • Providing leadership and guidance to the GNBC
    • Working to strengthen the effectiveness of the Board and encouraging the use, exchange, and promotion of authoritative geographical names.
  • Maintaining relations with internal and external stakeholders
    • Liaising with Board members as needed to encourage participation, feedback, and discussion in meetings and activities.
    • Providing direction as needed to the GNBC Secretariat by liaising with the Executive Secretary and with senior management of Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Canada Centre for Mapping and Earth Observation.
    • Serving as an ambassador for the GNBC by promoting public awareness of the significance of geographical naming in Canada and the work of the GNBC and representing the Board at national or international meetings or events, as required.
  • Ensuring the implementation of the GNBC Strategic Plan
    • Regularly liaising with Working Groups and Advisory Committees to ensure that their work is on track and aligned with the Strategic Plan.
  • Chairing the GNBC Annual Meeting and other meetings, workshops or events, as required
    • Willingness to travel across Canada to attend the GNBC’s Annual General Meeting.

The GNBC Chairperson is expected to serve in their own right, not as a representative of any particular organization, region or special interest. Accordingly, the Chairperson is expected to uphold and foster impartiality in the course of their duties. They will be chosen based on their individual accomplishments, knowledge and experience.

Time commitment / location

The successful candidate can expect to begin in Summer 2026.

The time commitment for the Chairperson is approximately 10 days per year, comprising four meetings annually, including face-to-face meetings and other virtual meetings. Face-to-face meetings may take place in Ottawa, Ontario, and at the location of the Annual General Meeting of the GNBC. The Chairperson will be required to chair GNBC quarterly virtual meetings to discuss GNBC projects. The Chairperson is also encouraged to collaborate with GNBC members outside of scheduled meetings.

Remuneration

The appointed Chairperson is compensated for their time and contributions to the GNBC by NRCan through a contract authorized under section (23)4 of the Interpretation Act. The Chairperson does not become a part of the Public Service of Canada as a result of this Ministerial appointment. Travel expenses, incurred in the performance of duties, are reimbursed at a level consistent with the National Joint Council (NJC) Travel Directive and Treasury Board of Canada Guidelines.

Evaluation criteria

To be considered for this position, please ensure that the information provided in your curriculum vitae and cover letter clearly demonstrates how you meet the following requirements:

Education and experience

  • A degree from a recognized university in a relevant field of study or an acceptable combination of education, job-related training and/or experience.
  • Experience serving and facilitating meetings as a chairperson, executive, or member of a council, committee or board for a public or private sector organization, or as a senior leader in the public or private sector.
  • Experience developing and maintaining successful relationships and partnerships with internal and external stakeholders (including Indigenous and academic stakeholders), different levels of government (i.e., federal, provincial, territorial), and different disciplinary backgrounds.
  • Experience in geography, cartography, geospatial data, geomatics, history, linguistics, Indigenous studies, Canadian studies, or another related discipline.
  • Experience facilitating collaboration between both technical and non-technical professionals in multidisciplinary teams would be considered an asset.

If you move on to the next stage of the selection process, the following criteria will be assessed:

Knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Knowledge of the importance and role of geographical names in Canadian geography, history, culture, and society, including Indigenous culture and toponymy.
  • Knowledge of the operations, challenges and opportunities of working with federal, provincial and territorial governments.
  • Knowledge of how geographical names support geospatial applications.
  • Knowledge of Indigenous languages would be considered an asset.
  • Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with stakeholders, including with federal, provincial and territorial governments, and Indigenous peoples.
  • Ability to facilitate consensus, manage conflicts (if they arise), and foster impartial, productive and inclusive discussion among individuals and organizations.
  • Ability to represent and promote the interests of a national board to various audiences both internal and external to government.
  • Superior communication skills, both written and oral.

If you move on to the next stage of the selection process, we will contact your references to verify how you have demonstrated the Experience requirements above and the following Personal Attributes in your current and recently held positions:

Personal attributes

  • Leadership and collegiality
  • High ethical standards, integrity and impartiality
  • Sound judgment
  • Tact and diplomacy
  • Superior interpersonal skills

How to apply

Interested candidates are requested to submit their application to the GNBC Secretariat at: geonames-toponymes@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca. The review of applications will begin on June 15, 2026.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by this date. After this date, your application will be retained and may be considered up until appointments are made.

Candidates are requested to provide a copy of their curriculum vitae and a cover letter of no more than three pages specifying:

  • Their name and contact information (telephone, e-mail and mailing address)
  • How they meet the Education and Experience; Knowledge, Skills and Abilities; Personal Attributes; and Eligibility Factors and Conditions of Employment criteria
  • The contact information for two references

Government officials may conduct background and other checks.

A roster of qualified candidates may be established and may be used for similar opportunities.

We thank all those who apply. Please note that only candidates who are selected will be contacted.

Ministerial appointment

Ministerial appointments will be merit-based to promote the appointment of qualified Canadians who represent Canada’s diversity, in terms of linguistic, regional and employment equity representation.

A selection committee will evaluate all submissions against the listed criteria.

Eligibility factors and conditions of employment

In your application, it will be important to confirm that you meet the following requirements:

  • Able to make an annual time commitment of approximately 10 days per year, comprising four meetings annually and be available for virtual meetings, when required.
  • Willing to travel in Canada, as required.
  • Willing to attend and chair the GNBC Annual General Meeting. The meeting is typically held in October and involves 2-3 days of participation. There may also be face-to-face meetings in Ottawa, when required.

If you are appointed to this position:

Official languages and diversity

The Government of Canada will consider bilingual proficiency and diversity in assessing candidates for this position. You are encouraged to indicate your ability to speak and understand your second official language in your application. Proficiency in both official languages would be preferred. In your application, please also include your ability to speak and understand another language, such as an Indigenous language. The Government is committed to ensuring that its appointments take into consideration the desire to achieve gender parity and reflect Canada’s diversity, in terms of linguistic, regional and employment equity representation. You are therefore encouraged to indicate in your application if you are a member of one or more of the following groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with a disability, visible minority. Please note that there is no requirement to provide this information, i.e., provision of this information is voluntary.

Privacy notice statement

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is subject to the Privacy Act and is committed to your privacy and the protection of your personal information.

The personal information requested is collected under the authority of section 5 of the Department of Natural Resources Act, S.C. 1994, c. 41, and Order in Council P.C. 2000-283, which continues the Geographical Names Board of Canada and authorizes the Minister of Natural Resources to appoint its Chairperson. Your personal information will be used to contact you and assess eligibility for appointment to the GNBC Chairperson position, including for verifying references and background checks. Furthermore, your information may be used to create a shortlist of qualified candidates for the Minister’s review and selection. The appointed candidate will be publicly announced upon their acceptance of the role. For more information on the collection, use, disclosure and retention of the information please refer to the following Personal Information Bank: Members of Boards, Committees and Councils (PSU919), which can be found on InfoSource.

Under the Privacy Act, you have the right to request access to your personal information held by NRCan and to request changes to incorrect personal information by contacting the Access to Information and Privacy Secretariat at atip-aiprp@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca. You also have a right to file a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you feel your personal information has been handled improperly.

For more information on this process, or how we handle your personal information, please contact the GNBC Secretariat by email: geonames-toponymes@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

 
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