 (screenshot google maps).png)
Canadians have noticed an unexpected detail in Google Maps, where several provincial parks are labelled as "state parks," prompting questions and concern.
The issue came to light over the weekend as Canadians began sharing screenshots in Facebook groups dedicated to supporting Canadian businesses amid tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. The screenshots showed several provincial parks across Canada being mislabelled as "state parks" in Google Maps.
We have confirmed that this labelling has occurred in many, though not all, cases. In Saskatchewan, Candle Lake Provincial Park, Rowan’s Ravine Provincial Park, and Pike Lake Provincial Park are among those listed as state parks. Alberta has seen similar labels, with Big Hill Springs Provincial Park, Crimson Lake Provincial Park, and Willmore Wilderness Park affected.
Errors have existed for 'several years': Google spokesperson
However, a Google spokesperson says that the labels are not recent changes, and are longstanding errors.
“We have not made any recent changes to the way we label parks in Canada – the vast majority of these parks have had their existing labels for several years," the spokesperson says. "We're actively working to update labels for parks in Canada to avoid confusion."
While some Canadians initially speculated that this was a recent change, Google’s statement suggests the issue has existed for years without widespread notice. The company says it's now committed to reviewing and correcting these labels.
This discussion comes shortly after another controversial alteration on Google Maps, where the Gulf of Mexico was relabeled as the "Gulf of America" following an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20. The move was widely criticized and led to confusion among users.
Trump has repeatedly expressed his view that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States, a stance that has sparked controversy and pushback from Canadian leaders. The comments were initially brushed off as jokes but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has since warned that Trump's comments about taking over Canada are "a real thing."
As of now, Google has not provided a timeline for when the incorrect labels will be updated.
This is an updated story to include Google's comments on the matter.