The GeoNames database is an excellent resource for georeferencing placenames, and is available for download free of charge under a Creative Commons attribution license. It contains over eight million geographical names and consists of 6.5 million unique features, including 2.2 million populated places and 1.8 million alternate names.

A text search for any named place, if it is in the database, results in a record display that includes data such as feature class and lat/long, and a link to a map display of the location.

Another portal to free geospatial data, GeoBase is:

a federal, provincial and territorial government initiative that is overseen by the Canadian Council on Geomatics (CCOG). It is undertaken to ensure the provision of, and access to, a common, up-to-date and maintained base of quality geospatial data for all of Canada. Through the GeoBase portal, users with an interest in the field of geomatics have access to quality geospatial information at no cost and with unrestricted use.

As the name suggests, GeoGratis is the place to get free geospatial data, offered by the Earth Sciences Sector (ESS) of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). This data is useful for both novice and expert users, but does require a geographic information system (GIS) for use.

GeoConnections is a portal to data and services designed to:

support projects that enable decision-makers to use location-based information to benefit public health, safety and security, the environment, and Aboriginal communities.

The GeoConnections program not only provides data, but offers standards and guidelines for the use and dissemination of geospatial data, having had a prominent role in the creation of the Canadian Geospatial Data Infrastructure ( see post on CGDI).