Egerton Ryerson

Born on March 24, 1803, in what is now Ontario, Egerton Ryerson became one of the best-known public figures in early English-speaking Canada. He was a Methodist minister as well as an editor and author, and he used those roles to argue for better education, religious freedom, and a broader public life in the colony.

Ryerson is most often remembered for helping build the framework of Ontario’s public school system. He served for many years as Chief Superintendent of Education for Upper Canada and worked on school policy, teacher training, textbooks, and administration. Because of that work, he is often described as a founder of the province’s school system.

At the same time, his historical reputation has been reassessed in recent years. Scholars and public institutions have pointed to his role in shaping ideas about Indigenous education that were later tied to Canada’s residential school system. That makes him an important but deeply debated figure in Canadian history.