Ryerson University has officially changed its name to Toronto Metropolitan University.
Credit: Toronto Metropolitan University
Announcing that the Board of Directors at the 73-year-old university in Toronto has unanimously approved the name change, President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi through a press release said, “Our new name Toronto Metropolitan University embodies so many things about our university, our community, our students, faculty, staff and alumni.”
The new name comes after many wanted a change due to the university’s connection to Egerton Ryerson who was partly influential in the creation of Canada’s residential school system.
Assuring the new name “is not about erasing our history”, Mohamed Lachemi said, “Our new name is a cause for celebration, to celebrate all that makes us who we are and to welcome all the ways we can make a positive impact on the people and communities around us – here in Toronto, across Canada and around the world.”
The University Renaming Advisory Committee which was formed last year, reviewed 1,820 social media posts using the #nextchaptername hashtag, 226 email responses and three surveys sent via traditional mail. The Committee says more than 8,000 participants suggested an idea for the new name and more than 2,200 unique names were provided.
Toronto Metropolitan University through the website says, “The transition to the new name will happen in phases. Some university materials will change immediately, while other initiatives will take more time. For example, changes to webpages and social media handles can happen relatively quickly, while other changes, such as external signage on-campus buildings and amendments to legal documents, including degrees, will take longer. ”
Those with documents for their degrees, diplomas and certificates can either keep existing documents with Ryerson University or can request a new document once the name has been legally changed by the amendment of the Ryerson University Act.