Burlington asks for help to rename park named after architect of residential schools
A southern Ontario city wants the help of local residents as it renames a park named after an architect of the residential school system.
The City of Burlington has asked residents to send in suggestions for a new name for Ryerson Park.
The park is named after Egerton Ryerson, who helped design both the public and residential school systems in Canada.
After local school trustees voted to change the name of nearby Ryerson Public School in June, city council moved to change the park's name.
"This was done out of respect for Indigenous residents in our community, particularly following the recent discovery of mass graves at former residential schools," the city said in a statement.
The move is part of an effort to follow the recommendations set out in the 2015 report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada on the notorious residential school system, the city said.
"In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada concluded this assimilation amounted to the genocide of Indigenous people," the city said.
"Our Indigenous community should enjoy our parks and public spaces without a reminder of this. Renaming our city park is one step we can take toward reconciliation with our Indigenous residents."
The final report from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission detailed widespread mistreatment at Canada's residential schools, including emotional, physical and sexual abuse, and more than 4,000 deaths at the institutions.
The City of Burlington said it is accepting submissions for a new park name on its website until Sept. 11.
Voting on a new name will begin on Sept. 20 until Oct. 1. The city said it would then deliver a recommendation to council in November.
Burlington's move follows similar efforts elsewhere.
In nearby Hamilton, the public school board voted this summer to rename Ryerson Elementary School and said it will review the names of all its facilities to ensure they align with current values.
In Toronto, a statue of Ryerson at Ryerson University was ripped down in June and the school said it has no plans to replace it.
The university's school of journalism said in June it would rename two of its publications, the Ryerson Review of Journalism and the Ryersonian.
The school said Egerton Ryerson was "indisputably" one of the architects of the residential school system.
Municipalities across the country have removed other statues, plaques and names of those who helped create residential schools.
Much of that effort has been focused on former prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald, another architect of the residential school system.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.