Pressure builds for name change at Ryerson
Man after whom Toronto university was named helped shape residential-school policy
TORONTO — A student-led campaign at Ryerson University is pushing for the school to change its name out of respect for residential school survivors.
But the proposal from the Ryerson Students Union and the Indigenous Students Association has prompted a considerable backlash from the wider student community, who criticize it as being impractical and disrespectful in its own right.
The downtown Toronto university is named for Egerton Ryerson, a pioneer of public education in Ontario who is widely believed to have helped shape residential-school policy through his ideas on education for Indigenous children.
The school has previously stated that Ryerson’s ideas contributed to the system that has since been described as a “cultural genocide,” and acknowledged the need to commit to respectful relationships with Indigenous students.
The request for a name change is one of 11 demands the students union posted on its Facebook page on Canada Day under the hashtag #resist150.
Others include removing a statue of Ryerson that currently stands on campus, creating an Indigenous-only space for students, and implementing mandatory Indigenous content in all programs.
But the demands have sparked controversy both in and out of the union.
Union president Susanne Nyaga said at least one executive member has expressed a desire to rethink his position on the issue, and the union itself might have to revise its stance after further discussions.
Students outside the union, meanwhile, have decried the idea of changing the school’s name. They have pointed to the financial costs of a major rebranding, expressed concerns that changing the name could pose problems for graduates who hold a Ryerson degree or diploma, and argued that expunging Egerton Ryerson’s name and likeness from campus is not a sound way of acknowledging a dark episode in Canada’s history.
“The statue must remain, and the name of the school,” wrote one Facebook poster identifying herself as Indigenous. “Why? It’s the history of the school. You do not have to agree with it, but it is the history of what people back then were thinking. It is a reminder. … No one’s hands are clean when it comes to the history of Canada.”
The demand that drew perhaps the highest number of critical or derisive comments states that the school should “change the name of Ryerson University to a name that does not celebrate a man who supported and created the structures of colonial genocide.”
Other demands include implementing recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, as well as hosting at least one annual powwow per year and encouraging the adoption of the orange shirt campaign to commemorate residential school survivors.
Nyaga said it was Indigenous student groups on campus that initiated the campaign, not the union itself, which operates independently of Ryerson despite being funded by student dollars. She said those groups have long considered Egerton Ryerson’s legacy as problematic.
“These conversations have been happening amongst Indigenous students for years,” she said. “The difference is that the RSU is supporting Indigenous students and standing in solidarity with them this time.”
But solidarity is not yet established internally, she acknowledged, saying the next union board meeting on July 19 will likely feature some discussion of the issue. It is possible that the union will withdraw its support for the demands, she said, adding that she supports them all.
The university said in a statement that it was looking forward to hearing the union’s concerns so they could work together productively.
“Ryerson University values the equitable, intentional and ongoing engagement of equity, diversity and inclusion within every facet of university life,” the statement said. “As always, we invite any students or student groups with concerns to contact university administration directly.”