The statue of Egerton Ryerson, the namesake for Toronto's Ryerson University, who is in part credited for Canada's public and residential school systems, has been felled by demonstrators who are calling for the institution to change its name.
The statue of Egerton Ryerson on the Ryerson University campus is no longer standing. Protesters call for the investigation in the deaths of First Nations children in residential schools across Canada. #XUniversity pic.twitter.com/gsRqn8wYGx
— Steve Russell (@SteveRussell) June 7, 2021
The statue, like many in colonized nations around the world, has long been a controversial pain point, especially after the discovery of the remains of 215 children on the site of Kamloops Indigenous Residential School in late May.
Various demonstrations have been held on the Ryerson campus in recent days, including a sit-in on May 31 intended to bring further attention to the atrocity of residential schools in Canada and honour the children found in the unmarked grave.
— THE QUEEN CHOKE ON MY COCK 2021 (@P0LKAR00) June 6, 2021
Activists have been demanding not only that the university remove the statue, but also change its name to cut ties with Ryerson — some students and staff have been referring to the school simply as "University X" until a more suitable moniker is found.
As people have stated in various petitions against the effigy, Ryerson was "a known racist and sexist who aided the Canadian government in the creation of residential schools."
This is fantastic to see.
— DrJamesSmith @YorkU (@jasmith_yorku) June 7, 2021
Many, many faculty and staff have been calling on the administration at #Ryerson to do the right thing for years and years. It was done in private, nicely and quietly. Nothing happened. Now it's out in the public. https://t.co/SsTB8DtzLy
Amid calls to action, the institution's journalism school has decided to omit the Ryerson name from future publications of both The Ryerson Review of Journalism and The Ryersonian next academic year.
More than 350 students and faculty have also signed a revived petition to change the university's name.
"While we recognize a process is in place to address the legacy of Egerton Ryerson, the impact he, his name, and his role as an architect of the residential school system continues to have on Indigenous community members at the university is not an intellectual matter to be parsed out or managed through drawn-out institutional processes," it reads.
Egerton Ryerson’s head at the feet of an Indian Residential School survivor. #XUniversity #215children pic.twitter.com/bNiCTQFPMj
— Caryma Sa'd - Lawyer (@CarymaRules) June 7, 2021
"We reject the notion that there is a choice here that can be made — one between the ongoing harm and violence that Indigenous students, faculty, and staff are telling us they are experiencing, and the concept of 'commemoration,' as defined by the institution," petitioners continue.
"This is an issue of justice and restoration, and also one of dignity and care for those who are part of the X University community."
The school issued a formal statement on Sunday morning in which President Mohamed Lachemi indicated that the statue — which is also now headless — will not be restored or replaced.
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