Talk:Penetanguishene, Ontario

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I grew up in the Muskoka region (Ontario), and when people referred to Penetang, they were almost always referring to the mental institute. "Bob belongs in Penetang" meant Bob was crazy. A girl in my high school year book (valadictorian) predicted that she would burn out in college and "end up in Penetang".

I feel like this should be added to the page, but is it appropriate?

That's not the exclusive definition of the term, so it's probably not appropriate. (See Penetang-Midland Coach Lines, Penetang Kings, hell - if you have a driver's license and you live there it says Penetang.)

[edit] meaning of the word "Penetanguishene"

I grew up in Penetanguishene. Though many people (including residents) believe the word "Penetanguishene" means "place of the white rolling sands" in the Ojibwe language, I have yet to meet an Ojibwe speaker who can actually confirm this. Is there a reliable source to confirm this? --Magnetha 19:15, 1 August 2006 (UTC)

Neither have I, but my best guesses are either biinidaawangaashiinh (of clean/pure sand) or opimedaawangaashiinh (of sand on the edges). But you're right, "rolling" nor "white" is in the name, though it might be implied. Since the description is in regard to Gordon's Point, looking at its structure should provide additional clue. CJLippert (talk) 17:15, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Though no "rolling" (-diti-) in the name, and for that matter neither is "sand" (-daawang-), the name of the near-by Waubaushene, Ontario do have "white" (waab-). So, I wonder if maybe the "white rolling sands" was a description of the entire area, and since both places have the "-shene", maybe "Penetanguishene" retained a fragment of the name and "Waubaushene" retained another fragment of the name? CJLippert (talk) 22:23, 3 June 2008 (UTC)