Over the past decade, Ryerson students, faculty and staff, the university’s Aboriginal Education Council, and the Truth and Reconciliation Strategic Working Group have been deeply involved in the process of reconciling Egerton Ryerson’s connection to residential schools.
Over the past months, communities around the world have been having important conversations about their relationships with historical figures. At Ryerson, President Mohamed Lachemi appointed a Presidential Task Force to gather feedback on what the university can do to reconcile the legacy of Egerton Ryerson, fully understand his relationship with residential schools, develop principles to guide potential next steps which the university could take, and submit a final report with recommended actions for the university.
The 14 members of the task force are students, faculty, alumni and staff, and representatives from the community. The two co-chairs are Joanne Dallaire, Elder (Ke Shay Hayo) and senior advisor Indigenous relations and reconciliation at Ryerson University, chair of the Ryerson’s Aboriginal Education Council, and co-chair of the Truth and Reconciliation directive; and Catherine Ellis, chair and associate professor in the Department of History at Ryerson University and a faculty elected member on the Board of Governors.
