What’s in a Name? Ryerson Park Set to Be Renamed Based on Location, Not Legacy
Owen Sound Council votes to rename Ryerson Park, clarifying the change is not a judgment on Egerton Ryerson’s legacy but a reflection of historical accuracy and community policy.
Owen Sound City Council has officially voted to rename Ryerson Park, following a recommendation from the Community Services Committee and after receiving a deputation challenging the rationale for the change.
The decision confirms that the renaming is not a judgment on the historical legacy of Egerton Ryerson, but rather a move to correct a name that no longer reflects the park’s location or history.
Deputation Challenges Reasoning Behind Renaming
During the January 12 Council meeting, Ron Stagg, Professor Emeritus of History from Toronto Metropolitan University, appeared virtually to present a deputation titled Re: Renaming of Ryerson Park.
Stagg, a member of a group called the Friends of Egerton Ryerson, expressed concern that the renaming may be based on a “misunderstanding of history.”
“I’m not here to tell you you shouldn’t change the name of Ryerson Park, but I am here to explain why you’re doing it for the wrong reason,” said Stagg. He emphasized Ryerson’s historical contributions to public education in Ontario and argued that Ryerson was inaccurately associated with the residential school system.
“Until less than 10 years ago, he was known as the creator of the modern education system in Ontario,” Stagg told Council. “What happened since… a small group of people at Ryerson University… did some rather bad research… and they came up with the idea that Egerton Ryerson was responsible for residential schools.”
Stagg cited Ryerson’s 1847 curriculum report requested by the colonial government as his only connection to education for Indigenous children. “He basically said they should have education, same as in the regular school system,” he noted, rejecting claims that Ryerson promoted assimilationist or harmful practices.
Stagg urged Council to reconsider the basis for renaming. “Whether or not you choose to change the name, [please] recognize that Ryerson was, in fact, what was originally said about him—not what was said about him later.”
Council Clarifies Reason for Renaming
Later in the meeting, Councillor Marion Koepke, Chair of the Community Services Committee, presented minutes from the December 17, 2025, meeting. Koepke summarized the findings of a staff working group that reviewed the park’s naming history.
“It was determined by the working group that the park was not, in fact, named after Egerton Ryerson, but rather for its proximity to Ryerson Public School,” said Koepke. “Historically, the park was called Boyd Street Park, and in 1988, the area was later named Ryerson School Playground, which informally was shortened to Ryerson Park.”
The committee recommended:
Ratifying the recommendation to rename Ryerson Park,
Proceeding with the renaming process per city policy CS087,
Prioritizing a name with a locational reference,
Installing a plaque or marker to educate visitors on the park’s naming history,
And dissolving the working group, having fulfilled its mandate.
In response to Stagg’s presentation, Councillor Brock Hamley, who served on the ad hoc committee alongside Councillors Koepke and Farmer, stated: “The presenter kind of stated that we were trying to rewrite the history on Egerton Ryerson and I just wanted to be very, very clear that… the report presented to Community Services does not speak to the legacy of Egerton Ryerson.”
“We did review the Toronto Metropolitan University report, but that’s really as far as we dug into that portion of the question,” Hamley continued. “The one thing that we did all agree on… is that Ryerson himself had no historical connection to Owen Sound other than the name of the previous school.”
Councillor Jon Farmer reinforced that point: “Per the research of the committee and staff, the official name on record is Ryerson Public School Playground. And one way or another, we agreed that that name doesn’t make sense right now.”
Council Votes to Proceed with Renaming
Mayor Ian Boddy called the vote following Council discussion. The minutes from the Community Services Committee, including the recommendations regarding the renaming of the park, passed. Boddy added a lighthearted comment in closing: “There is a Ryerson connection to Owen Sound, but it’s been lost unless you read the right 1867 book.”
The next steps in the process include public consultation and a new name proposal, anticipated to begin in February 2026. A plaque or marker will also be installed to ensure transparency and preserve the historical context of the park’s former names.
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