Changing the name of Université de Moncton is the ‘right thing to do’

A grassroots movement in support of a change of name for the Université de Moncton that erupted in 2023 continues to grow, despite an attempt by the university to close down the discussion. This is the twelfth time the issue of a name change has been raised since the Acadian university was created in the early 1960s.

The university’s decision to end its participation in the discussion seems to contravene its own current strategic plan, which commits it to analyze all its actions for opportunities to support decolonization and to increase its rapprochement with the Acadian community.

An association of nine Mi’gmaq chiefs in the province, the Mi’gmawe’l Tplu’taqnn, supports a change “to a more appropriate, inclusive name.”

In their eloquent letter to the university, the chiefs say they’ve been advocating for name changes for names –

which are considered offensive, racist, or places/spaces that have been named after historic figures who may have caused trauma to specific groups and cultures… Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton was a key historical figure in the Seven Years war, the capture of Fort Beauséjour, and led the expulsion  of the Acadians or ‘Le Grand Dérangement’, beginning in 1755… Men, women, and children were forcibly removed from their homes and their land, which they had farmed for a century. Their houses were burned and their land given to settlers loyal to Britain… The event is largely regarded as a crime against humanity. During this era, the Mi’gmaq offered shelter and protection to many Acadians. This helped strengthen a reciprocal relationship that continues to this day. For this reason, the Mi’gmaq Chiefs New Brunswick lend their support to the university in their pursuit to change the title, to a name that is more inclusive and less offensive. From the Mi’gmaq perspective, it is simply the right thing to do.

The story of how the glorious jewel of Acadie, its Université de Moncton, got its name is not glorious, although that’s not the fault of its founders. It was a compromise choice, adopted when the university
was created in the early 60s, chosen because it was neutral and less likely to provoke Anglophones as much as, say, Université Acadienne. At a time when New Brunswick and Moncton were not yet officially bilingual,
and when elected officials and citizens were openly expressing their contempt for Francophones and their opposition to Francophone institutions, Acadie did what it took to get our university: it was given a nom de guerre.

A citizens committee now steers the main campaign to change the name. The committee has so far collected 72 suggestions for a new name, including some humorous ones such as Université d’Icitte and Université Acadieman. They have analyzed the suggestions against criteria for what would constitute a good name, criteria determined through consultation with the public and by volunteers with expertise in history, education, toponomy and geography.

Now a preferential vote is underway. Until March 22, 2025, members of the public who support a name change are given the opportunity to choose from the three names that best met the criteria: Université d’Acadie, Université francophone Atlantique, Université Nouvelle-Acadie. Operation nouveau nom’s website and voting page is at nouveaunom.ca.

The recent death of Antonine Maillet, Acadie’s most celebrated writer, brought many people to suggest that “Université Antonine-Maillet” be added to the choices. The committee has said that the executor of Madame Maillet’s estate asked that her name not be added to the list and recalled that Madame Maillet had publicly supported one of the names already on the ballot, Université Nouvelle-Acadie.

Of course, the current voting process will not decide the new name. The vote was organized as an exercise in citizen democracy, in part to get people thinking about appropriate names for the beloved university. What
is hoped is that the university commits to a process of open consultation of the Acadian and francophone community on a name change.

As the Comité citoyen pour un nouveau nom (the Citizens’ Committee for a new name) says, the name of the Acadian people’s flagship institution of higher learning – Canada’s largest French-language university in a minority setting – is inadequate. It disguises the fact that the university is Acadian, francophone, provincial and was created with three equal constituent parts – Edmundston, Moncton and Shippagan. That is reason enough for a change. Its name should affirm who we are.

The university, over the past 60 years, has contributed to the coming of modern Acadie, but today, its name does not reflect that Acadie.

Rosella Melanson is a member of the Comité citoyen pour un nouveau nom.