SIX ENDANGERED TORONTO ICONS
The city has many enduring buildings, fixtures and places that act as landmarks and symbols — instantly recognizable as postcards of life in The 6. Star columnist Edward Keenan highlights six that appear to be on the verge of extinction.
TORONTO sign
An instant popular hit and tourist destination when it was installed for the Pan Am Games as a temporary piece of decor, this multicoloured sign needs money for rebuilding and maintenance if the city wants to keep it around.
Transit tokens
In 2006, when many transit systems were doing away with tickets and tokens in favour of fare cards, the TTC launched new two-tone coins similar to a miniature toonie. These shiny symbols — which have been made into cufflinks by some urban transit enthusiasts — will be phased out when the Presto card system is fully deployed.
CLRV streetcars
Coming into service in the 1980s to replace the previously iconic “red rocket” PCC cars, the Canadian-made red-and-white streetcars with the centre headlight have become synonymous with downtown Toronto. As the new Flexity streetcars arrive in service (slooooowly) from Bombardier, the CLRV’s are being retired.
“Acorn” street signs
For generations, navigation of the old city of Toronto depended on the rectangular white and black street signs, bearing allcapital letters and an acorn-shaped adornment on top. These have been replaced for years by larger blue signs at major intersections. Plenty remain, though they are being phased out and replaced by designs said to be more safe and legible.
Honest Ed’s
The city’s original discount retailer, whose operation grew and grew and swallowed up neighbouring storefronts until it became an oddball big-box maze of showrooms. The 10,000-points-oflightbulb sign outside has long been a defining Bloor Street landmark — destined for retirement when the store closes for redevelopment at the end of this year.
Scarborough Bluffs
The cliffs on the Lake Ontario shoreline in Scarborough have long been — by a wide margin — the most remarkable natural feature of Toronto. But they’ve also been receding, threatening homes and parkland at the top, and endangering people in the park below as chunks periodically fall off. Measures to stop their erosion include planting vegetation and creating breakwaters. But those measures are gradually changing the look of much of the bluffs, so the slope becomes more gentle and green plants replace the sandy-coloured clay.