Ryerson University is changing its name to Toronto Metropolitan University after its board of trustees approved the change on Tuesday.
The downtown Toronto university, named after an architect of Canada’s residential school system, had faced growing calls to change its name.
The president of the establishment, Mohamed Lachemi, indicated that he had proposed the new name to the board of directors of the university, which then approved it.
In a letter to the university community, he said the new name reflects the school’s location in the heart of Canada’s largest and most diverse city, making it a gathering place for people all over the world.
He added that he was grateful to the members of the committee tasked with suggesting a new name for their dedication to coming up with one that will unify the community.
“I want to assure everyone that our new name is not meant to erase our history,” he said. Our values have long defined who we are and they will always guide where we are going. Our values are the foundation on which we have built our unique, dynamic, diverse and intentionally inclusive culture. »
Last August, the school’s board approved a motion to accept 22 recommendations from a special task force, including one to rename the school.
The task force was formed in November 2020 to examine and address the legacy of Egerton Ryerson, who helped design the public school and residential school systems for Indigenous people.
He recommended renaming the institution through a process that “engages community members and university stakeholders.”