Help Rename Burlington's Ryerson Park
MY TAKE:The City of Burlington is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and the names we choose for our municipal properties must reflect that commitment – both going forward, and in retrospect. As part of that commitment, City Council recently unanimously endorsed the Halton Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Charter. We have also recently updated our naming policies to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion is integrated in all our asset naming.There have been growing calls from within our community, including from Indigenous residents, to remove Ryerson’s name from public spaces such as parks and schools. Indigenous community members need to enjoy these spaces without a reminder of one of the architects of the residential school system and the legacy of harm it created for their people. Renaming our city park is one step we can take toward reconciliation with local Indigenous residents.*Please see below a news release issued by the City of Burlington.
Burlington, Ont. — Aug. 24, 2021 — The park currently known as Ryerson Park at 565 Woodview Rd. will be renamed to reflect the City’s current naming policies for City assets. Residents are invited to suggest a new name at GetInvolvedBurlington.ca/RenamethisPark. The new name must reflect equity, diversity and inclusion consistent with today’s standards. Staff will take the suggestions submitted and report back to committee with a recommendation for a new name by November 2021.Why are we renaming Ryerson Park?At the June 16, 2021 meeting of the Halton District School Board (HDSB), trustees unanimously approved a motion to rename Ryerson Public School on Woodview Road in Burlington, in accordance with the Board’s Naming and Renaming Schools Policy and Governance Procedure.As part of the Board motion, the Chair of the Board sent a letter to inform the City of this decision. Burlington City Council then unanimously voted to rename Ryerson Park. This was done out of respect for Indigenous residents in our community, particularly following the recent discovery mass graves at former residential schools. Suggestions for indigenous names for the park are welcome.Burlington’s Ryerson Public School, and adjacent Ryerson Park, are named after Egerton Ryerson for his contributions to the Ontario education system, however, Ryerson was also instrumental in the design of Canada’s residential school system. In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada concluded this assimilation amounted to the genocide of Indigenous people.Links and Resources: