Proposed names for all 77 local governments and 12 rural districts which were created through the modernization of the local governance system have been announced.

Entity 22, which includes the village of Blackville as well as the local service districts of Sunner Corner, Derby, Renous-Quarryville, and portions of several other local service districts in the area, has a proposed name of Miramichi River Valley.

The names of the communities in which people reside and their mailing addresses are not changing. The new name is for the local government administrative body as restructured entities come together to form stronger local governments.

Local Government and Local Governance Reform Minister Daniel Allain thanked toponomy experts Maurice Basque and Ken Harding for their guidance over the past few months.

As part of local governance reform, 340 entities are being restructured into 77 local governments and 12 rural districts. The entities were assigned a number while the community leaders worked with their transition team, facilitators and residents to develop a new name for their local administrative body.

Section 60 of the Local Governance Act will allow for a local government to change its name in the future if they so choose.

The proposed names become official when they are set in regulation, which is expected to occur by September.