To All Members of the Carleton Community,
Earlier this year, President Benoit-Antoine Bacon announced the New Names for New Times initiative, which aims to adopt new names for three of Carleton’s campus buildings to better reflect our diversity and commitment to inclusion.
Building on the momentum of Carleton’s newly launched Strategic Integrated Plan, Kinàmàgawin (Learning Together) Indigenous Strategy, and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, this initiative is an important step that demonstrates Carleton’s ongoing commitment to lead the way towards a more equitable world where everyone can see themselves reflected in their environment and feel a sense of belonging.
Since this initiative was announced, we have been seeking guidance to ensure the process is undertaken in a community-led way. Following consultations with the Indigenous Education Council, the Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities and various internal and external partners, we are now pleased to share an update about how we see the next phase unfolding.
There will be three distinct, but connected, processes to rename the buildings. All three processes will be collaborative, collegial and transparent and will be led by representative advisory councils.
We are engaging Algonquin communities – notably Kitigan Zibi and Pikwakanagan – and Algonquin students at Carleton to form an Algonquin Advisory Council that will lead the naming process for this building, a significant step that goes beyond land recognition. Importantly, this is an Algonquin-led process that will be determined by the advisory council. Algonquin students can indicate their interest to participate by emailing NewNames@carleton.ca.
We are engaging Black communities in a process to name Residence Commons. We are currently accepting nominations and expressions of interest from individuals interested in contributing to the Advisory Council that will guide the naming of Residence Commons. Candidates may self-nominate by submitting a one-paragraph statement outlining their interest to NewNames@carleton.ca. There will be many additional opportunities for participation as the process unfolds; please submit your nominations to join the Advisory Council by May 11.
In the spirit of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, we wish to acknowledge and honour the Inuit of Canada. We are engaging the Inuit community and Inuit students at Carleton to form an Inuit Advisory Council that will lead this process. Inuit students can indicate their interest to participate by emailing NewNames@carleton.ca.
The new names may reflect the ways in which the community engages with the buildings. As such, we invite you to provide your impressions of the three buildings involved in this initiative.
We are committed to continuing to communicate updates as we navigate this process. We will communicate further engagement opportunities as additional details are finalized. Questions or concerns can always be directed to NewNames@carleton.ca.
Sincerely,
Co-Chairs, New Names for New Times Initiative
Michael Charles Assistant Vice-President and University Advisor, Equity and Inclusive Communities
Kahente Horn-Miller Assistant Vice-President, Indigenous Initiatives
Benny Michaud Director, Centre for Indigenous Initiatives
Patrice Smith Dean, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs
Jerry Tomberlin Provost and Vice-President (Academic)