The decision, in 1941, to create independent commands in all shore establishments, brought about the search for appropriate names. As all Naval Divisions were affected, and to perpetuate names of ships that had served Naval Forces, but whose names were not currently allocated, it was decided to rename the division, for the most part, after ships that had served in the Great Lakes during the War of 1812. Such was the beginning of HMCS "Prevost", named after HMS "Lady Prevost", a schooner brig serving with the Lake Erie Squadron, so named in honour of the wife of Sir George Prevost, the then Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief, of the British Forces in North America. The commissioning pennant was therefore hoisted on 1 November 1941.