Ryerson University has been renamed Toronto Metropolitan University by the board of governors as it will better reflect the values and aspirations on which the university is based. The new name is the culmination of the work carried out by the university over several years.
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Ryerson University was named after Egerton Ryerson who was a Methodist preacher, educator and colonialist. Ryerson is credited to have designed the residential school model for Canadas Indigenous population.
The president and vice-chancellor Mohamed Lachemi of the university noted that the word 'metropolitan' has always mirrored what the university has been. It has been an urban institution dedicated to excellence, innovation and inclusion and a place where all feel welcome, seen, represented and celebrated.
The board of governors has unanimously sanctioned the new name while also accepting the 22 recommendations of the Standing Strong Task Force.
The recommendations were released by the task force in August 2021 which included that the university renames the institution so that they can engage community members and university stakeholders, and not reinstall, restore or replace Ryersons statue and rescue the remaining pieces of a toppled statue. The memorial to Ryerson was demolished during a protest after a mass grave was discovered at a residential school.
The consultations at University Renaming Advisory Committee collected responses from over 30,000 people and reviewed more than 2,600 names. Jennifer S. Simpson, URAC chair and provost and vice-president, Academic said that by engaging the community they have learned that the people had a strong desire for the new name to refer to the location of the university.
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The name Toronto Metropolitan University reflects the feedback heard by the board and is in line with their values and accomplishments. Lachemi added that their values have contributed to building a uniquely vibrant, diverse and intentionally inclusive culture. The name now seems to unify all the members of the community.
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Source: The PIE News