Introducing our new team name

The Ryerson Rams are now the TMU Bold. In addition to the new team name, a new mascot has also been chosen, changing from a ram to a falcon.

“Boldness is a core value of our university. It is shared by our students, reflected in our approach to learning and research, and demonstrated on the court, the field, and the rink by our athletes,” said president and vice-chancellor, Mohamed Lachemi. 

This change is part of Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Next Chapter commitments. The selection of a new team name and mascot was one of the 22 recommendations put forward in  (PDF file) a report by the Standing Strong Task Force in August 2021, which called for the university to reconsider the mascot “Eggy”, more formally Egerton the Ram, which had been the university mascot since 1961.

The process

A committee was formed to guide the process. The goal was to get feedback from the TMU community and with the help of community consultation, identify a team name and mascot that supports the athletic program and aligns with the university’s new name, university values and institutional aspirations.

The parameters aimed to identify team name and mascot options that were:

• unifying for the TMU community;
• representative of positive qualities, ideals, or associations that align with TMU;
• broadly relevant across the community, student body, and among generations of alumni;
• representative of the TMU and/or Toronto experience and/or history, either generally or specifically;
• appropriate for all sports teams - regardless of gender or sport
• legally ownable and/or unique in the city/sector 

In an extensive two-phased process, TMU received 4,800 contributions via surveys. In May, the university received 2,100 responses to an initial survey and open call for suggestions. In July, a shortlist was published, which resulted in an additional 2,700 survey submissions and email responses. 

TMU Bold

TMU Bold was selected based on community feedback. People wanted a team name that was unique and confident as well as something that represented the values and aspirations of the university.

“Every legacy begins with a bold decision to start something meaningful, lasting and memorable,” said Lachemi. “This is a team name that we can cultivate, own, and celebrate.” 

TMU will continue to embrace boldness as it grows into and builds upon its new name. 

The Falcon

Community feedback was also an integral part in determining what mascot will accompany the new team name. Input in the second phase of the process, after the shortlist was provided, identified the need for a new option.

“It was clear from the feedback that our community wanted the TMU mascot to be an animal with local significance, with a level of sophistication and something that would connect to the team name,” said Jen McMillen, vice-provost, students. “Falcons are as bold as they come. They are fast and fierce, they are good critical thinkers, they are strong. These are all qualities that align with boldness, and represent many qualities of TMU student-athletes.”

In fact, the falcon was recommended nearly 40 times by community members, with one person saying, “a falcon represents keeping vigilant and transforming for the better which is what [TMU] aims to do. Transform for the better, this is why I think a falcon would be the perfect mascot.” 

What’s next

The new team name will be used immediately while new team uniforms and a physical mascot, complete with a nickname, character development and costume, will follow in the coming months. The TMU Bold team logo is currently in development. Facilities at the Mattamy Athletic Centre will be updated to reflect the new name over the course of the academic year. 

This fall, the student-athletes will continue to wear their R branded gear. New uniforms will be unveiled at a later date. For more information about the TMU Bold, visit Athletics and Recreation (external link) . 

Further information on the university’s renaming process and ongoing updates on the action plan to implement all Standing Strong Task Force recommendations, can always be found on the Next Chapter website.