“Algoma is synonymous with the region. We are a part of the community as much as the community is a part of us,” said Algoma chief executive officer Kalyan Ghosh.

“Our company and community are proud of the name Algoma, a name that has always been associated with steel. It was only natural to return to our roots.”

Algoma became Essar Steel Algoma after it was acquired by India’s Essar Global Ltd. in 2007. 

But whether the new name sticks remains to be seen. The steelmaker remains under creditor protection and is continuing to work on a sale to a group made up of its term lenders.  

"We do not know what the final name of the company will be, depending on what the buyer will finally name it," Ghosh told the online SooToday.com. 

"We hope that the new buyer will keep the Algoma brand.... We are trying to go back to the roots and remain as Algoma," he said. 

The decision follows a similar move from another Canadian steelmaker, Stelco. In December 2016, U. S. Steel Canada said it was dropping the name of its corporate parent, United States Steel Corp., and resurrecting the Stelco identity.