The Hon. Paul Calandra
Minister of Education
Government of Ontario
Dear Minister Calandra
It was reported on December 12, 2025, in The Epoch Times, that the current education director of the TDSB is being replaced on an interim basis by associate director Stacey Zucker to bring about “a fresh start” in its direction.
Evidence of resources being wasted by the Board on issues not connected with student achievement were cited among the reasons for passage of the “Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025”; intended to give you the authority as Minister of Education, to assume control over “mismanagement”.
We certainly agree that there was an egregious misdirection of funds for the purpose of renaming three schools but there were factual distortions involved as well. Not only was the TDSB choosing politics over student achievement, but they were wrong on all three of their reasons for the proposed renaming: Egerton Ryerson (had nothing to do with residential schools); Henry Dundas (a committed abolitionist was hardly a delayer of the abolition of the slave trade}; and Sir John A. Macdonald (yes, more nuanced, but accusations of him have been grossly exaggerated).
Measures should be taken to ensure students are appropriately taught with factual accuracy regarding the contributions these three historical figures have made to the development of Canada. Students in our schools deserve no less.
Do let us know if we can be of help with guidance on relevant curriculum development as our membership includes a number of prominent Canadian historians.
Best Regards
Rose Dyson Ed.D.
Friends of Egerton Ryerson