toronto subway

Photo by Craig James White from the set Toronto's TTC Stations.

despite being on the west coast, i am still following my toronto blogs (here and here). yesterday, the torontoist had a piece on the controversial decision to edit much of the signage used in subway stations around the city. although i am all for updating and refreshing where updating and refreshing are due, i have to agree with the author and with accessibility expert Joe Clark. the subway has been integral to my experience in toronto as a frequent visitor throughout my childhood and teenagedom, and as a resident for the past 3 years. i remember memorizing the station sequence heading southbound from Finch (where we typically stayed with my granny or grandpa) around the loop to the University line, reciting the station names in my head based on the first rush of coloured tiles as we pulled in. Lawrence was a deep orangey-brown, Eglinton was grey. Rosedale's identity was conveyed in bright canary yellow on a broad sweep of tiny diamond-shaped khaki green tiles. i liked Wellesley in turquoise, and the mosaic patterns of St. Andrew and Osgoode. but across every station, the bold subway typeface was familiar and authoritative. frankly, i would be devastated if they went through and changed all of the signage to match the comparatively dull black-on-concrete look of the newer Sheppard line.

the torontoist story linked out to some great TTC-related items. at spacing, you can purchase pins portraying each and every subway station. and, Craig James White has a beautiful TTC flickr photo set. these pictures make me want to be back in toronto riding the subway. my personal favourite shots are of Arlene Stamp's tile designs at Downsview station, and of the stunning tile artwork by James Sutherland at Dupont station. i am particularly sentimental about the latter, since Dupont was my home station for the past three years. how can you not feel deco glamorous when walking up a stairwell like this or down the main corridor that looks like this? i would recommend checking out the entire photo set. there are some hidden gems in those stations under the ground!