Canadian Geographical Names
Natural Resources Canada |
Abbreviations and symbols for the names of the provinces and territories
When shortened forms of the names of the provinces and territories are required for general purpose use, the English and French abbreviations shown in the second and fourth columns are recommended. The two-letter symbol, used for example in addresses with postal codes, is listed in the centre column.
| Province / Territory |
Abbrev. |
Symbol /
Symbole |
Abrév. |
Province / Territoire |
| Alberta |
Alta. |
AB |
Alb. |
Alberta |
| British Columbia |
B.C. |
BC |
C.-B. |
Colombie-Britannique |
| Manitoba |
Man. |
MB |
Man. |
Manitoba |
| New Brunswick |
N.B. |
NB |
N.-B. |
Nouveau-Brunswick |
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
Nfld. * |
NF |
T.-N. * |
Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador |
| Northwest Territories |
N.W.T. |
NT |
T.N.-O. |
Territoires du Nord-Ouest |
| Nova Scotia |
N.S. |
NS |
N.-É. |
Nouvelle-Écosse |
| Nunavut |
- |
NU ** |
- |
Nunavut |
| Ontario |
Ont. |
ON |
Ont. |
Ontario |
| Prince Edward Island |
P.E.I. |
PE |
Î.-P.-É. |
Île-du-Prince-Édouard |
| Quebec |
Que. |
QC |
Qué. ou Qc |
Québec |
| Saskatchewan |
Sask. |
SK |
Sask. |
Saskatchewan |
| Yukon Territory |
Y.T. |
YT |
Yn |
Territoire du Yukon |
* On 6 December 2001, the Governor General of Canada proclaimed the constitutional amendment changing the name of the Province of Newfoundland to Newfoundland and Labrador. At the moment, there is no abbreviation to reflect the province's new name. We understand, however, that the provincial government has been asked to come up with an abbreviation. Discussions and investigation are also underway concerning the postal code/symbol - currently NF. Both of these matters may take some time to be sorted out. In the meantime, we would recommend that the existing abbreviation and postal code/symbol continue to be used.
** The symbol for Nunavut is NU as of 18 December 2000. There is, as yet, no abbreviation for Nunavut, although that will come in time.
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