Earlier this year, President Benoit-Antoine Bacon announced the New Names for New Times initiative that Carleton will undertake over the next 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 are 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 is launching 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: University Centre, Residence Commons and Robertson Hall. This important step demonstrates Carleton’s commitment to Indigenous Reconciliation and against anti-Black racism.
Five collaborative campus leaders have been appointed as co-chairs to lead this process:
This process will be collaborative, collegial and transparent. Updates about this process will be added here as they become available. In the initial phase, we are seeking guidance with current partners to ensure the process is undertaken in a community-led way.
Comments and questions can be directed to NewNames@carleton.ca.