Next Step in Ryerson Park Renaming Comes to Council 4 Years After Sign Removed
Owen Sound Council will decide Monday whether to begin the formal process of renaming Ryerson Park, following a staff-reviewed application under the city's naming policy.
Owen Sound City Council will consider a staff recommendation on Monday regarding whether to initiate a formal process to rename Ryerson Park, following the submission of an application under the city's naming policy.
The discussion around renaming Ryerson Park in Owen Sound is part of a broader national reckoning with Canada's colonial past, particularly the legacy of the residential school system.
Egerton Ryerson, the park’s namesake, is recognized for his role in shaping Ontario’s public education system in the mid-1800s. But he also played a key role in the development of residential schools—government-funded, church-run institutions designed to assimilate Indigenous children.
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada concluded that these schools, which operated for more than a century, inflicted deep and lasting harm, describing their impact as cultural genocide.
Calls to rename places bearing Ryerson’s name gained renewed urgency in 2021, after the discovery of unmarked graves at former residential school sites across the country.
For many community members, including Indigenous residents, public spaces named after figures associated with these institutions serve as painful reminders of a system that sought to erase their cultures and identities.
Renaming such spaces has been framed by advocates as a step toward reconciliation, aimed at creating environments that are respectful and inclusive. In Burlington, for example, the city renamed its Ryerson Park to “Sweetgrass Park” following a public consultation process, choosing a name rooted in Indigenous traditions and symbolic of healing.
A 2021 petition gathered over 400 names in support of changing the Owen Sound park’s name. When contacted by Owen Sound Sun Times at the time, Mayor Ian Boddy said he was aware of the petition and believed that reviewing the names of all the city’s parks was “due to happen.” The sign was also removed in 2021.
Four years later, the process is making a step forward.
The application to rename Ryerson Park was submitted using the prescribed form and, following a review, has been deemed complete by staff. The initial submission prompted a request for additional information, but staff later determined that sufficient supporting research was already available.
According to the staff report prepared by Pamela Coulter, Director of Community Services, Council will be asked to decide whether to move forward with the renaming process. If so, it will also be asked to appoint three members of Council to a working group that would review the request.
The working group would also include senior staff and could consult with legal or subject matter experts, as outlined in the policy.
Staff indicate that, should the process be initiated, the next step would be a report to the Community Services Committee detailing the request and outlining the working group’s composition and mandate.
No financial impacts are expected at this stage, though costs may be incurred if expert consultation is required. The staff report notes no anticipated climate or environmental implications associated with the request.
Council is scheduled to review the recommendation at its meeting on Monday, May 26.
Related:
Good godfrey, surely they won't hire a consultant for this? When Sydenham School was changing its name, there was a community poll/vote. Simple.