Ryerson

Ryerson is a surname of English origin that has been used to name people, places, and institutions in Canada. It is most widely recognized today in connection with a prominent Toronto-based university, which historically carried the Ryerson name but has since been renamed to reflect a broader branding and addressing of legacy issues.

Toronto Metropolitan University, located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, began in 1948 as the Ryerson Institute of Technology. It evolved into Ryerson University in 1993 after attaining university status and, in 2022, was renamed Toronto Metropolitan University to reflect changes in its identity and to address concerns surrounding the legacy of Egerton Ryerson, whom the institution was named after. The university remains focused on applied, career-oriented education and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a campus near the city’s core and a strong emphasis on urban and community engagement.

Egerton Ryerson (1803–1882) was a Canadian educator and Methodist minister who played a significant role in shaping Ontario’s 19th-century public education system. His influence on education is widely recognized, but his legacy is controversial due to his advocacy of policies that supported residential schools for Indigenous peoples. Debates about his commemoration have influenced discussions about name changes for institutions bearing his name.

Beyond individuals, Ryerson also appears as a historical surname associated with Canadian institutions and discourse. Today, the name primarily persists in historical contexts and in reference to the former surname of Toronto’s leading polytechnic, now operating under the Toronto Metropolitan University banner.