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Once we decide to rename something, what happens next?

The Big Story
The Big Story
Episode • Jul 13, 2021 • 23m

Right now, across Canada, there are questions around the names of places, institutions and even streets. The debate about whether or not we should rename something that honours problematic and sometimes racist historical figures is a question all sorts of organizations, from governments to companies to school boards are wrestling with.

But more interesting questions come afterward. So you’ve decided to change a name: To what? Who gets a say? How exactly do you go about correcting the historical record? Do you wipe all references to the former person clean, or acknowledge the former name? And how minute can you get with the names of places and things before logistics become a problem?

GUEST: Dr. Vidya Shah, York University

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The Big Story • Once we decide to rename something, what happens next? • Listen on Fountain