Three areas within the Thompson-Nicola Regional District are a step closer to receiving a new identity.

Regional directors approved a recommendation to add the title Grasslands to Electoral Area L, Beautiful Nicola Valley – North to Electoral Area M, and Beautiful Nicola Valley – South to Electoral Area N.

Regional board chair Randy Murray these are three electoral areas that were only designated with a letter and the time has come to give them a proper name.

Murray, who represents Area M, said this will make it easier to place the electoral areas geographically.

“We have to ensure that it doesn’t infringe with any existing businesses in the area,” he said, adding there are criteria to meet.

When it came to their areas, Murray and Area N director Herb Graham looked at tradition. Murray said the Beautiful Nicola Valley comes from a song written in the 1930s.

“There’s a real strong identification in the valley with that,” he said.

Area L director Ken Gillis said his region has several areas of rolling grasslands, so the title is appropriate.

The designations now need the approval of the province.