'Good riddance': Ryerson University's board approves recommendations to rename the school
On Thursday, Ryerson University's board of governors approved recommendations to change the name of the school.
The Standing Strong (Mash Koh Wee Kah Pooh Win) Task Force's final report put forward 22 recommendations, including renaming the university and detailing opportunities to learn about Indigenous history and colonial relations.
Egerton Ryerson was a notable architect of residential schools and his statue at the institution was toppled earlier this year, following the confirmation of graves sites on the grounds of former residential schools.
"One of the report recommendations is for the university to develop an action plan by January 31, 2022, to address and implement the Task Force’s recommendations," a statement from the university's President & Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi reads.
"We will honour that commitment and I assure our community that a process will be put in place to ensure that the recommendations are carried out in an equitable, transparent, inclusive and timely manner. All recommendations related to academics and program delivery will be referred to Senate prior to the completion of the implementation action plan."
Many people have now taken to social media to comment on the change coming to the school.
BREAKING: Ryerson University will officially be renamed.
In case anybody forgot, Egerton Ryerson was a creator of Canada's residential school system that devastated generations of Indigenous peoples.
Good riddance.— Naheed Dosani (@NaheedD) August 26, 2021
Renaming Ryerson University is a great first step...Now let's remove the name of every single person who perpetrated genocide from every single institution across Canada.
— Dr. Amit Arya (@AmitAryaMD) August 26, 2021
Very proud of my university community today as Ryerson University commits to changing its name to better reflect our values. Gratitude to all members of the Standing Strong (Mash Koh Wee Kah Pooh Win) Task Force. https://t.co/I1i813XBnH
— gary hepburn (@garyhepburn) August 26, 2021
I honestly didn’t think this would happen, but I’m thrilled to be proven wrong. This a really positive step forward
Ryerson University to change its name amid reckoning with history of residential schools https://t.co/oY6kmfVDwk— Rachel W Jekanowski, PhD (@stalebreadzine) August 26, 2021
Extremely happy to hear that the Uni I just graduated from will be changing its name.
Ryerson no more! Begone! Good riddance. https://t.co/ybf1O5uyOI— 🔎 Adrian (@Gaming_Observer) August 26, 2021
One step at a time in the right direction.https://t.co/DcK12Z0Ly1
— A. Q. Mufti (@aqmufti) August 26, 2021
ryerson changing the name 🦀🦀🦀 don’t ever let enemies of progress tell you that protesting/ demonstrating doesn’t achieve anything
— angieloopi (@angieloopi) August 26, 2021