Ryerson name is still being used, students want answers

Toronto Metropolitan University officials are asking for patience as at least one campus, run by the institution, hangs onto the Ryerson name.

On TMU’s downtown campus nearly all of the signs have changed. There are a few remnants declaring the old name but plans are in place to change those too. Websites, social media platforms, merchandise in the bookstore, letterhead and even student ID’s reflect the new name of Toronto Metropolitan University.

But it’s a much different scenario thousands of miles away. An international campus in Egypt, run by TMU, isn’t called Toronto Metropolitan University at all – it still boldly declares itself “Ryerson University Cairo.” That university opened in September, several months after TMU ditched the Ryerson name in response to public outcry.

A person, who wishes to remain anonymous, reached out to CityNews.

“Please look into why this name is still being used in Egypt.”

Many students CityNews spoke to and even faculty were not aware of it.

“I had no idea. I knew we had an international campus but I thought when they changed the name they’d do the same there as well. The fact that they haven’t is concerning,” said student Thomas Abi.

On websites, videos and recent posts to social media platforms which are being used to promote the new Cairo campus, there’s little to no mention of any name change.

“That’s absurd to me,” said student Areej Zaidi. “When they changed the name they made it such a big deal and it meant something to students like myself.”

In April, the university announced the name change, erasing any connection to Egerton Ryerson, one of the architects of Canada’s residential Indigenous school system.

“The message didn’t get to Cairo it seems,” said student Adam Apalit. “It kind of shows that we are still, to some degree, holding on to this terrible past of Ryerson.”

CityNews reached out to TMU and were told the name cannot be changed, yet.

“The establishment of the Cairo Campus was made possible through the release of a Presidential Decree in Egypt, in response to filings that were initiated before the university’s new name of Toronto Metropolitan University was determined,” a University spokesperson said.

That decree is based on the University’s legal name — which is still “Ryerson University.”

That’s because the University is still waiting for legislative approval of the new name, which is required for public universities.

“The Ryerson University Act needs to be amended by the Government of Ontario before the name can be fully changed in a legal capacity.”

Once that is complete, the spokesperson said the institution in Cairo will also change its name.

“We are only able to resubmit documentation to have the Egyptian Presidential decree updated to reflect our new name once the provincial act is amended and our name is changed legally.”

The University is still waiting for approval from the government to change its legal name.

“At this time, we do not have an exact timeline on when our legislated name change will take place.”

Students we spoke with agree a name change of this scale takes time — especially on an international scale – but say TMU in Cairo should follow suit with the campus in Toronto, especially on social media.

“They’re still using hashtags declaring #RyersonUniversityCairo,” Abi said. “It’s not that hard to change a hashtag or a website. We’ve done it here in Toronto, why not there?”

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