Earlier this year, President Benoit-Antoine Bacon announced the New Names for New Times initiative that Carleton has undertaken over the last several months.
At Carleton, as on many university campuses across the country, more than 40 per cent of students are from culturally diverse communities. At all institutions, there is a recognition of the urgent need to better reflect our diversity in our academic mission and campus operations. Carleton has been at the forefront of change, notably in responding to the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and must continue to lead the way towards a more equitable world where everyone can fully belong and fully contribute.
We were keenly aware that the names of our buildings – like those on campuses across Canada – are not representative of our community or the current Canadian population. In this spirit, following the release of our new and exciting Strategic Integrated Plan, our Kinàmàgawin (Learning Together) Indigenous Strategy, and our recently completed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan, Carleton executed the New Names for New Times initiative to give three of our main campus buildings new names that reflect our diversity and commitment to inclusion. This important step demonstrates Carleton’s commitment to Indigenous Reconciliation and against anti-Black racism.
Five collaborative campus leaders were appointed as co-chairs to lead the process: