The Grand Erie District School Board is going to rename a school.
The board is launching the renaming process for Ryerson Heights Elementary School and is reaching out to the local school community and across the district for submissions for a new name.
JoAnna Roberto, Director of Education, said in a release that “ We have the opportunity to understand history,recognize the importance of culture, and engage school and community voice in the process
of renaming to create a safe and welcoming learning environment.”
The board is asking for submissions through a form on its website up until January 17, 2022.
The form asks for not just a new name suggestion, but also the reason why it’s a great choice for the school.
Members of other relevant communities, including the Indigenous community, will also be consulted in the naming process.
The plan is to bring a recommendation to the Board in the spring of 2022, with an anticipated goal of having new signage and documentation in place for the start of the new school year in September 2022.
In the release they noted that Egerton Ryerson lived from 1803 to 1882 and was an influential historical figure and educator but his legacy, with respect to the establishment of the residential school system, is seen to be reprehensible through the devastating impact it has had on Indigenous people across Canada and in the communities Grand Erie serves.