A Canadian company, Hilroy, has been criticized for including a flawed map of the country on its back-to-school notebooks. The error, attributed to a printing mistake, leaves off parts of Atlantic Canada, specifically Newfoundland and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Over 14 million such notebooks were produced annually by ACCO Brands Corp., Hilroy's US parent company. Provincial politicians in both Nova Scotia and Newfoundland have condemned the mistake, with some linking it to ongoing tensions with the US following President Trump's recent comments on Canadian geography.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
But in what’s become the second Canadian geography scandal in less than a week, Hilroy and its American parent company are under fire for lopping off parts of Atlantic Canada.
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Hilroy → become → Canada
Hilroy said a printing error caused Newfoundland and Cape Breton, N.S., to be left off the map shown on the covers of its glossy notebooks.
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Newfoundland → say → notebooks
The company has apologized, and said it has stopped distributing the notebooks and plans to correct the map.
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it → apologize → map
But the gaffe landed at a particularly sore time for Canadians, incensing provincial political leaders and sharpening anti-American tensions during a trade war with the U.S.
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gaffe → land → U.S.
week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order to rename Lake Ontario to Lake America, and followed that up with social-media posts criticizing Canada.
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Trump → sign → Canada
He, and others in his orbit, have also repeatedly questioned Canada’s sovereignty, suggesting the country should become the 51st state.
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country → question → sovereignty
The map mishap sparked outrage on social media, with some users linking Hilroy’s blunder to Mr. Trump.
“Who drew the map for Hilroy – Donald Trump?” wrote one poster on social media.
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poster → spark → media
Others pointed out that the Hilroy notebook cover also appears to be missing the Haida Gwaii islands off the coast of British Columbia.
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cover → point → Columbia
A spokesperson said the company is aware and addressing that omission as part of its “correction plan.”
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company → say → plan
Hilroy’s cartographical error also riled East Coast politicians, who condemned the notebook cover in their own social media posts.
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who → rile → posts
“You can leave Newfoundland off an exercise book, but you can’t erase us,” Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham wrote on Wednesday (the map did not omit Labrador).
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map → leave → Labrador
“Hilroy will never take away our identity, our history, or our place on the map.”
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Hilroy → take → map
In a statement to The Globe and Mail, Mr. Wakeham added that it’s disheartening to see such a historically beloved Canadian brand overlook a vital part of our nation’s geography.
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brand → add → geography
The company, founded in downtown Toronto in 1918, was acquired by U.S.-based ACCO Brands Corp. in 2012.
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company → found → 2012
Hilroy produces 14 million notebooks annually and still manufactures some of its products in Mississauga, Ont.
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Hilroy → produce → Mississauga
Copies of the lined 40-page notebooks with the flawed map viewed by The Globe had a copyright date of 2025 and said they were made in China.
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they → view → China
ACCO Brands said the faulty exercise books first hit the market last year.
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books → say → market
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston also reacted strongly to the map error, calling it “unacceptable” and directing his Education Minister, Brendan Maguire, to send the makers of Hilroy notebooks a map of Canada that includes Cape Breton and Newfoundland.
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that → react → Breton
In a letter to Hilroy Canada’s vice-president, culture and administrative services, Lori Conley, which was shared with The Globe, Mr. Maguire wrote: “I understand Canada is a big country.
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Canada → share → Globe
There are provinces, territories, islands and, apparently, some places that can be surprisingly difficult to locate.
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that → be → ?
Cape Breton, however, is fairly easy to find.”
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Breton → find → ?
Mr. Maguire went on to describe Cape Breton’s historical and economic contributions, finishing with a nod to the trade tensions.
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Maguire → go → tensions
“At a time of global uncertainty, Canadian pride matters.
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pride → matter → uncertainty
So does making sure every part of our country is represented.
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part → do → country
That includes Cape Breton (and our friends in Newfoundland and Labrador).”
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That → include → Newfoundland
Nova Scotia Opposition Leader Claudia Chender had a more succinct way of putting it in her social media post: “Time for Hilroy to go back to school.”
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Hilroy → have → school
Hilroy’s scribblers are widely distributed at large retailers such as Staples and Walmart.
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scribblers → distribute → Staples
At a busy Walmart in Halifax, where throngs of parents and children were shopping for back-to-school supplies on Wednesday, there were multiple boxes of the gem-toned pink, blue, turquoise and purple notebooks with the erroneous map on display at the front of the store.
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throngs → shop → store
In a social media post, Hilroy Canada thanked those who spotted the mistake.
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who → thank → mistake
“Getting it wrong stings,” said a company post on Instagram.
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post → get → Instagram
“A production error left Newfoundland and Cape Breton off the map on our glossy cover design.
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error → leave → design
That’s our mistake, and we’re sorry.”
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we → ’ → ?
Hilroy Canada said anyone who wants a replacement or refund should reach out via its website.
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who → say → website
