Ryerson Park in Owen Sound at the bottom of the 8th Street hill on June 8, 2021. (Matt Hermiz/Bayshore Broadcasting News)
The city plans to “proactively” remove the nameplate at Ryerson Park in Owen Sound prior to discussion on a motion brought forward by the mayor to alter policies to review past names of public parks and facilities.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy gave notice at Monday’s council meeting he intends to introduce a motion to instruct staff to review and update the parks, sites and buildings naming policies through the city’s upcoming policy review project to include criteria to review those previously named in the city.
Boddy says the city has a policy for the naming of parks, buildings and facilities going forward, but not to review current or historic names.
The park at 8th Street and 5th Avenue East in Owen Sound is across the street from the former Ryerson school, which is now apartments.
An online petition addressed to Owen Sound council started circulating in wake of the recent discovery of remains of 215 children buried in unmarked graves at the grounds of a former residential school in Kamloops, B.C. The petition calls on the city to change the name of Ryerson Park, because its namesake Egerton Ryerson is recognized as one of the architects of Canada’s residential school system.
Boddy says city council has received requests to alter the name of Ryerson Park and is also aware of the online petition.
“In the spirit of reconciliation, people have requested the removal of statues and the renaming of parks, buildings and facilities that were named after famous (Canadians) whose actions and ideas may not meet the standard we all strive for today, and may not be appropriate for the location,” Boddy says.
Boddy also asked staff to remove the sign from Ryerson Park immediately. While the mayor’s request was not publicly addressed by staff at Monday’s meeting, City Manager Tim Simmonds confirms the city will be acting on it and taking down the nameplate at the park.
“Based on discussion at council yesterday evening, and in light of media reporting on Ryerson statues, nameplates … being vandalized and defaced in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond, staff is proactively removing the sign that reads Ryerson Park to hopefully avoid such issues here that could cause more significant damage,” Simmonds says in an email.
Susan Staves Schank is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and chair of the Giche Namewikwedong Reconciliation Garden Committee. She believes the name of Ryerson Park should be changed, but the place should still include information about its past.
She says this could include signage in the area to reflect the past name and the history of why it was changed.
“I believe that, if we do rename the park, there should be information still standing about Ryerson. That way we won’t ever forget and it’s just history. Our history should be told. The whole truth and the whole history of a place,” Staves Schank explains. “Ryerson lived. Certainly, he did have something to do with the residential school legacy. But, in order to get the full picture of that legacy, you have to include Ryerson in the history.”
Staves Schank is hopeful there is more consultation with Indigenous communities in the future naming of public places, such as parks and facilities.
“I think that would be very important and a further step to reconciliation in our area of Grey Bruce,” she says.
Boddy’s notice of motion will be discussed at council’s June 28 meeting.