UMoncton to study request for institutional name change

Université de Moncton has announced that it will review a request to change its name during its next board of governors meeting. UMoncton President Denis Prud’Homme issued a statement indicating that the university will study the request as part of its dedication to being responsive to the community and committed to societal transformation. The Winnipeg Free Press reports that the university’s name is drawn from the city of Moncton, which had been named for Robert Monckton, an 18th century British military officer who was involved in the imprisonment and deportation of Acadians. A petition launched earlier this month about the university’s name has received over 1,000 signatures, including prominent Acadians such as Antonine Maillet and Edith Butler.