Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America' by installing a large billboard on the Canadian shore.
On Saturday, August 29, 2026, Ford, wearing a Team Canada T-shirt, unveiled a sign measuring 24 by 12 feet (approximately 7,3 by 3,6 meters) at Fifty Point Conservation Area near Grimsby, Ontario. The sign reads: 'Lake Ontario. Now and Always' — and is repeated in French.
The billboard stands on six-meter supports and rises about two stories high. Ford posed for photos and recorded a video emphasizing: 'Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario. And long after he is gone, it will still be called that.'
Trump's executive order requires U.S. federal agencies to use the new name. Canadian politicians mostly met the move with mockery rather than outrage — amid months of tariffs, threats to make Canada the 51th state, and personal attacks.
Ford explained that the renaming is related to Ontario and Canada 'standing their ground.' 'Just in case President Trump or anyone else forgets, we put up this sign to remind them: this is Lake Ontario, now and always,' he added.
In response, Trump posted an AI-generated video on social media where he knocks down the sign and puts up a new one reading 'Lake America,' dancing to YMCA. The reaction in Canada remained ironic.
The lake's name comes from the Huron word 'oniatarí:io' — 'lake of shining waters.' It has existed for hundreds of years and does not depend on the decisions of one country.
Ford stated that the lake was called that long before Trump and will be called that after him.
Trump responded with an AI video where he 'knocks down' the sign and puts up a new one reading 'Lake America,' dancing to YMCA.
The Canadian reaction is mostly ironic and mocking, rather than furious.
The lake's name indeed comes from an Iroquoian/Huron word meaning roughly 'lake of shining waters.'
