Oswego Responds to Presidential Executive Order Renaming Lake Ontario

OSWEGO — Mayor Robert Corradino issued a statement today regarding President Trump’s
recent executive order directing federal agencies to refer to Lake Ontario as “Lake America.” The City
of Oswego does not support this change and will not be altering any municipal signage, tourism
materials, or official communications at this time.
“Lake Ontario has carried its name for hundreds of years,” Mayor Corradino said. “It is a name rooted
in history, geography, and the shared identity of the communities that surround it. There is no
practical, historical, or cultural need to change it. The name Lake Ontario comes from a Huron
Indigenous people’s word that means lake of shining waters. The province of Ontario took its name
from the lake in 1867, over two hundred years after the name first appeared on the maps of European
explorers.”
The mayor emphasized that Oswego’s longstanding connection to Lake Ontario is central to the city’s
heritage, economy, and sense of place. “Our residents, businesses, and visitors know this lake as
Lake Ontario. That will not change. The city of Oswego will continue using the name that reflects our
history and honors the generations who have lived, worked, and built their lives along its shores.”
At this time, the city will maintain all existing references to Lake Ontario across departments,
including tourism literature, signs, waterfront programming, and environmental initiatives.
“We respect the federal government’s authority,” Corradino added, “but our responsibility is to the
people of Oswego. Preserving the name Lake Ontario is part of preserving who we are.”
For additional information, please contact the Mayor’s Office at (315) 342-8136.