George Brown College has announced a new name after 58 years, and will be officially redubbed George Brown Polytechnic (GBP).
The institution announced the name change on Thursday morning, stating that the rebranding reflects the school’s shift to adopt new career-focused programs. In a press release, GBP noted that “This change demonstrates our commitment to providing advanced educational opportunities and marks a new era in our institution’s evolution.”
The centrepiece of this transition is George Brown’s new Master of Construction Management (MCM) program, which will help build up future leaders of the country’s construction workforce.
GBP describes the launch of this program as a “powerful signal of change during this transition.”
Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of George Brown Polytechnic, stated that “This transformation is not just a name change; it signifies our commitment to advancing education and workforce readiness.”
“The Master of Construction Management program reflects our dedication to equipping students with the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry and bolster Canada’s productivity,” said Fearon.
George Brown’s name change probably won’t dredge up the same type of politically-charged feelings as another relatively recent renaming of a local educational institute.
The April 2022 renaming of Ryerson University to Toronto Metropolitan University came on the heels of a unanimous board of governors decision in response to concerns about the school’s namesake, Egerton Ryerson.
Ryerson, an architect of Canada’s residential school system, was stripped from the school’s identity, becoming the subject of intense debate in the months that followed.
The renaming was the result of a year-long process initiated by the Standing Strong Task Force to address the university’s connection to Egerton Ryerson, who was an architect of Canada’s residential school system.
George Brown’s namesake — a politician and journalist who helped shape the nation of Canada — is viewed much more favourably by history, and this time, the renaming of a local institution is much less likely to generate controversy.
Lead photo by
JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com
