Ryerson Public School in Burlington to be renamed

Halton District School Board trustees have voted to rename Ryerson Public School in Burlington.

Wednesday’s motion to rename the school passed unanimously.

According to the board, the process will begin in September and will be completed by the end of November. Until then, the school’s current sign will be covered.

More details on the renaming process will be released in the fall.

It’s the latest school to move away from the name Ryerson, following the discovery of children’s remains outside former residential schools.

The school was named after Egerton Ryerson, who was instrumental in the creation of Canada’s residential school system.

“As trustees, we need to lead by example and have the courage to approach these difficult conversations,” says board chair Andrea Grebenc.

“The perspectives of the diverse communities of Halton must be valued and honoured. Indigenous students, staff and the broader community should be able to enter a school without being harmed by the HDSB upholding the name of a person that has contributed to genocide.”

Earlier this month, trustees at the Hamilton public school board approved a motion to rename Ryerson Public School in Hamilton.

READ MORE: Hamilton trustees vote to rename Ryerson Elementary School

The Halton school board will also send a letter to Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward informing her of the decision to change the name.

The community park next to the school is also named Ryerson.