The Town of Marathon is looking for community participation in the naming of the new Tiny Home Subdivision.

As with past municipal naming initiatives, community members are encouraged to submit proposed names along with supporting information. This process has been updated to reflect current engagement practices and the requirements of the Town’s Municipal Naming/Renaming Policy.

Submission Deadline

Submissions must be received by Friday, February 28 at 5:00 p.m.

Completed submissions can be:

• Emailed to: deputyclerk@marathon.ca
• Dropped off at: Town Hall

Naming Criteria

Any community call for naming suggestions will be structured to ensure submissions align with the Town’s established criteria.

Proposed names should reflect a sense of place, continuity, belonging and the unique identity of Marathon. Names should maintain long-standing local area identification and be consistent with applicable Town policies and standards.

Names That Will Not Be Considered

Submissions should avoid names that are:

• Discriminatory, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate for civic use.
• Political in nature.
• Duplicative of existing municipal names.
• Otherwise considered unsuitable under the Municipal Naming/Renaming Policy.

Names referencing living individuals are not eligible unless approved by Council under exceptional circumstances or in recognition of a significant financial contribution.

Where a name is being considered in commemoration of a deceased individual, the Town’s policy requires that a three-year waiting period following the individual’s death be observed.

Acceptable Naming Themes

The Town recognizes three general categories of acceptable naming themes, including:

• Geographic references
• Historic references
• Names associated with prominent individuals or organizations that have made significant and well-documented contributions to the community.

How to Submit a Name

To support a clear and transparent process, the Town is providing a simple way for residents to submit naming suggestions, either through an online form or a printable submission form.

Submissions will request enough information to allow Town staff to evaluate each proposal against the Town’s naming criteria.

Tiny Home Naming Submission Form

Information Required in Submissions

Information requested from participants should include:

1. The proposed subdivision name.
2. A brief explanation of how the name reflects Marathon’s geography, history, or community identity.
3. Any supporting background or context the resident wishes to provide.
4. Optional supporting documentation or community reference.
5. The name and contact information of the individual making the submission.

Where a proposed name is associated with a specific individual or organization, additional supporting information may be required, including evidence of community significance and any necessary permissions or endorsements.

What Happens Next?

Following the close of the submission period, Administration will review all proposed names for conformity with the Municipal Naming/Renaming Policy.

A shortlist of suitable options may be developed for further consideration. The process may also include a non-binding community feedback stage, depending on the level of interest and the number of viable submissions received.

All names selected for municipal recognition must ultimately be approved by Town Council. Staff will prepare a report outlining the recommended name, rationale, and a summary of the community engagement process undertaken, along with any relevant implications.

Town Council Approval

This approach ensures that the naming of the new subdivision is community-informed, policy-compliant, and reflective of Marathon’s identity, while maintaining the formal approval process required for municipal naming decisions.