Town Hall – Working Group on Principles of Commemoration and Renaming

Universities and other institutions across North America are reconciling the dissonance between certain thoughts, actions, and policies of their histories, and their current institutional identities, missions and aspirations. Some institutions are questioning whether to rename buildings or awards that bear the names of historical figures whose legacies are at odds with modern expectations.

In January 2018, the Working Group on Principles of Commemoration and Renaming began an examination of McGill’s relationship (past and current) with underrepresented groups, in the context of a broad-reaching reflection of its institutional history, with a view to recommending a set of principles by which the University may be guided in its decision-making with respect to any future commemorative or renaming initiative.

The Working Group’s final report is due in December 2018. The Working Group invites the McGill community to read the draft version of its report [.pdf], and discuss their thoughts during the two planned Town Halls. The downtown campus Town Hall takes place at the Faculty of Law. Please note that other consultation will take place September 26, 2018, at the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, on Macdonald campus.