Ryerson University  has announced that its Faculty of Law will be renamed the Lincoln Alexander School of Law.

 The renaming will be made official at an inaugural year-end celebration, which will take place virtually on May 6, 2021.

Lincoln MacCauley Alexander was a Canadian lawyer who became the first Black Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, the first Black federal Cabinet Minister, the first Black Chair of the Worker’s Compensation Board, and the 24th Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

“Throughout his career, Mr. Alexander demonstrated a longstanding commitment to championing education and youth initiatives and advancing racial equality,” said Ryerson University President and Vice-Chancellor Mohamed Lachemi.

The renaming of Ryerson’s Faculty of Law marks the culmination of Ryerson Law’s inaugural year as Toronto’s newest law school in over a century. In September 2020, Ryerson welcomed its first class of 170 law students.

In his provincial, federal, public and private roles, Alexander championed equity, diversity and inclusion. For his pioneering contributions, he was appointed as a Companion of the Order of Canada and to the Order of Ontario.

“We are so proud that our law school will be renamed after Lincoln Alexander – an indisputable trailblazer in Canadian history,” said Donna E. Young, founding dean, Ryerson Law. “Beyond his groundbreaking career, Mr. Alexander was a man of great character, determination and