Victoria University undergoes year-long art exhibition as it decides what to do with the former college President’s portrait
Content Warning: Mentions of residential schools
On September 29 2023, a day before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Victoria University held an event to launch its new project, Reflections on Art & History at Victoria University. At the event, community members heard from President Rhonda McEwen, Professor Jonathan Hamilton-Diabo, and former Vic student Riley Yesno about the experiences of Indigenous students and held discussions about reconciliation.
The Reflections on Art & History at Victoria University project will involve the display of art made by Indigenous and Black students. Alongside that initiative, the centre point of discussion at the event, and with the year-long project, was the unveiling of the Egerton Ryerson portrait frame. The frame was rehung in the foyer of Old Vic with the tearing away of a cover by President McEwen as the university’s press team captured photos. Next to the frame rests an educational statement about Ryerson’s legacy and a QR code for students to send feedback on the project. This feedback will then be compiled by Victoria University and presented to the President’s Indigenous Advisory Circle (IAC), which co-developed the project. Following discussions regarding the feedback, Victoria University and the IAC will decide what to do about the Ryerson portrait this upcoming April.
The portrait of Egerton Ryerson was taken down in June 2021 due to security concerns over the pandemic, along with other artwork. In March 2021, the Victoria University Research Panel on the Legacy of Egerton Ryerson claimed that community members must not forget Ryerson or his role and instead learn more about his legacy. Around the same time, the Presidential Report on the Legacy of Egerton Ryerson was released, which noted that Ryerson is intricately linked to Vic’s founding, as he “was responsible for negotiating the royal charter that officially established the Academy in 1836” and was appointed as the university’s first Principal. However, he also “proposed residential schools which would be overseen by the Indian Department but run by church denominations, which would be predicated upon Christianization, and which would train students to become agricultural labourers.”
This project, and discussions of Ryerson’s portrait, has led to many conversations on campus. Maximus Caron, Co-Manager of the Caffiends student cafe, which is next to the returned Ryerson portrait frame, told The Strand, “I’m a bit confused as to why the university feels the need to not make a clear statement against racism and the man who helped found the residential school system. The lack of communication and uncertainty about the permanence of the removal of Ryerson tells me as a student the university doesn’t necessarily care, but rather is temporarily saving face. Just because he was a founder of Vic does not mean we have to embrace or accept him by any means.” In a public statement, President McEwen said, “Instead of hiding our history, we are choosing to have a dialogue with it. Students, faculty, librarians, staff and community members are invited to learn, challenge, and consider how we present and engage with our history.”
Victoria University will soon begin calls for student artwork, which will be mounted in the Old Vic foyer alongside the portrait frame.
