Toronto Sign

December

December 1 – World AIDS Day (red)

December 2 – Women’s Brain Health Day (purple)

December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities (UN blue)

December 6 – National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (dimmed)

December 10 – International Human Rights Day (UN blue)

Title: Rekindle

Artwork by: Joseph Segaj in collaboration with Holly Fischer

The artwork design on the TORONTO Sign puts emphasis on highlighting Indigenous culture and showing on-going relationships of moving forward in positive light is of vital importance.

The City of Toronto recognizes UNESCO’s International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022 to 2032).

About the Artist

Joseph is Anishnaabe (Ojibwe) of the Sturgeon Clan, from the remote community of Neskantaga, approximately 500 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. He graduated in Fine Arts at the Ontario College of Art & Design in 1985.

Throughout Joseph’s 30-year career, Joseph feels honored in sharing his Anishnaabe ancestry and heritage into his expression of various forms of art. He has featured Indigenous knowledge, culture and teachings at the forefront with great pride that is reflected in his art.

Joseph continues to live and work in Toronto. Learn more about Joseph.

The 3D Medicine Wheel, a new addition to the TORONTO Sign, was installed on June 18, 2018 in honour of Indigenous Peoples and timed to elevate awareness of National Indigenous Peoples Day (formally National Aboriginal Day) on June 21.

This Medicine Wheel symbol was chosen, in consultation with the Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, as it is an emblem of North American Indigenous cultural values, tradition and spirituality. Its four directions (East, South, West and North) symbolize completeness, wholeness, connectedness and strength.

A 3D leaf structure was temporarily added to the TORONTO Sign in 2017 to mark Canada’s 150th birthday.

• The 3D Maple Leaf contains approximately 14,000 L.E.D. lights, approximately 152 m (500 ft.) of L.E.D. tape
• The 3D Maple Leaf L.E.D. strips are divided in to 8 horizontal sections from top to bottom allowing for ombre blending and graduating of light colours every 16”

1. Each letter can be moved and placed on its own
2. Each letter is 3 m (10 ft) tall and rests on a weighted plinth (base)
3. The full word is 22 (74 ft) long
4. The weight of the whole sign is 9,207 kg (20,300 lbs)
5. Each letter weighs approximately 136 kg (300 lbs)
6. Each letter plinth (base) weighs approximately 1,180 kg (2,600 lbs)
7. Each letter is equipped with L.E.D. lights and can transition to approximately 228 million different colours
8. The Sign contains approximately 396 m (1,300 ft) of L.E.D. lights
9. The letters are constructed with a steel frame, aluminum cladding and a translucent polycarbonate front and back
10. The colourful sides are covered in a changeable vinyl wrap, so the letters can be re-skinned with different designs

The original TORONTO Sign was installed on Nathan Phillips Square in front of Toronto City Hall in July 2015 for the Toronto Pan American and Parapan American Games. Although it was only intended to last a few weeks, in response to the sign’s popularity, the City of Toronto extended its presence on the Square and it became a Toronto landmark.

The Medicine Wheel was added on June 18, 2018 in honour of Indigenous Peoples and to increase awareness of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21.

The Medicine Wheel symbol was chosen, in consultation with Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, as it is an emblem of North American Indigenous cultural values, tradition and spirituality. Its four directions (East, South, West and North) symbolize completeness, wholeness, connectedness and strength.

A maple leaf was added to the TORONTO Sign in 2017 to mark Canada’s 150th birthday.

The TORONTO Sign has become symbolic of Toronto. According to a Destination Toronto visitor survey, the TORONTO sign was one of the top three most visited attractions in the city and it is consistently ranked as one of the most Instagram-worthy spots.

In September 2020, a more durable replica of the original TORONTO Sign was installed.

2018 to 2020 – Indigenous Symbol Vinyl Wrap

The vinyl wrap on the Sign resembles birch bark inlaid with symbols of significance for  Indigenous communities  that include: feathers, fire, inukshuk, lacrosse sticks, medicine wheel/unity pin, Métis sash, Ojibway canoe, sweet grass braid, turtle, dreamcatcher and a wampum belt. These symbols will remain on the TORONTO Sign until fall 2018 and the public can also utilize them as part of the TORONTOMOJI sticker pack for Iphone and Android available insert links.

iOS App Store
Google Play for Android

Two row wampum belt: The lines represent respect for the ways in which Indigenous and non-Indigenous people travel on the river of life: Indigenous in a canoe and non-Indigenous in a ship. It honours the principles of non-interference, peace, friendship and respect. The belt ends are unfinished to signify a treaty without end. (TPH Toronto’s First Indigenous Health Strategy)

Turtle: The turtle symbolizes health and longevity, and plays an important role in the creation story of Turtle Island, also referred to as North America or the World.
Link: CBC – Turtle Island – wheres that?

Sweetgrass Braid: Sweetgrass is a gift from Mother Earth and said to be a part of her hair. The plant promotes strength and kindness. When braiding sweet grass each strand of the braid represents mind, body and spirit.
Link: Ojibwe Resources – Ojibwe Medicines

Ojibway Canoe: The birch bark canoe was the principal means of water transportation for Indigenous Peoples of the Eastern Woodlands, and later voyageurs, who used it extensively in the fur trade in Canada.
Link: The Canadian Encyclopedia – Birchbark Canoe

Métis Sash: One of the most prominent symbols of the Métis Nation is the brightly coloured, woven sash. Not only functional, the sash is colourful and identifiable as Métis apparel. The sash itself served as a key holder, first aid kit, washcloth, towel, emergency bridle and saddle blanket and its fringed ends could become a sewing kit. The sash has acquired new significance in the 20th century, now symbolizing pride and identification for Métis people.

The Medicine Wheel: Based on Indigenous cultural values, tradition and spirituality. Its four directions (East, South, West and North) symbolize completeness, wholeness, connectedness and strength. (TPH Toronto’s First Indigenous Health Strategy) 

Lacrosse Sticks: Over 500 years ago Indigenous Peoples played lacrosse as a way to thank the Great Spirit. It could also be played to strengthen diplomatic alliances, support social conformity and economic equality.
Link: The Canadian Encyclopedia – Lacrosse

Inukshuk: An Inuit stone structure often found in the arctic landscape, the Inukshuk serves as a guide to travellers on land and sea, providing comfort, advice and spatial orientation.
Link: Toronto Inukshuk Park

Fire: The gift of Fire is believed to be the giver of new life and is often associated with fertility. Fire is the element that requires the utmost care and attention since it can bring new life and take life away.
Link: Assembly of First Nations – Honouring Fire

Feathers: The feather of an eagle conveys strength. The middle vane in the feather symbolizes the path that everyone walks in their life time, and every barb that comes of the middle vane symbolizes the choices we all have in life, and that every choice we make is attached to the middle or main path that we take.
Link: Silver FX – Native Symbols

Dreamcatcher: If an individual was in emotional or physical pain they could choose to go on a healing journey. This involved the making of a dream catcher. With the support of the community and healer, the individual learned how to deal with their pain as they completed their dream catcher.
Link: the Nation – The story of the dream catcher

The TORONTO Sign Celebratory and Commemorative Lighting Program offers an opportunity to:

• Celebrate and highlight Toronto’s significant festivals and events
• Support and elevate awareness for local not-for-profit and charitable causes
• Celebrate and highlight significant accomplishments and series for Toronto’s professional Sports teams and amateur sporting events
• Underscore key national celebrations, historic commemorations and days proclaimed by the City to promote diversity

Program Details

• Each approved commemorative lighting will be rotated into the Sign’s colour sequence for a time period of 24 hours (9 a.m. to 9 a.m. unless otherwise stipulated). The LED lights, although always on, are not visible in bright daylight
• Commemorative Lighting patterns will be included in rotation with the Sign’s original multi-coloured pattern.
• Multiple lighting requests (up to four) may be accommodated on the same day. When multiple requests are scheduled together, each pattern will display for a two minute interval.
• There is no fee required to submit a lighting request or to light the Sign, if the request is approved.
• Staff will program the sign year-round with seasonal colour variations in addition to commemorative lighting requests received from the community.
• All requests will be considered on a first come, first served basis.
• Due to unforeseen circumstances, confirmed lighting requests are subject to change at the discretion of the City of Toronto.

The Canada 150 3D Leaf will not be included in the TORONTO Sign Commemorative Lighting Program. During Commemorative Lightings, the maple leaf will appear in either a neutral white, or red shade.

Please note that in the event of an extenuating circumstance, approved lighting requests may be subject to revision or delay by the City.

Requirements, Criteria and Categories

All TORONTO Sign lighting requests must adhere to the overarching criteria and fall within the established categories. Prior to submitting your request, review the criteria below.

How to Apply

All lighting requests must be:

• In compliance with the Lighting Requirements/Criteria below
• Made 30 days in advance of the month in which the lighting is to take place to provide ample time for review and approval. Requests should not be submitted more than six months in advance
• Submitted in writing by email to 3dto@toronto.ca or by mail to TORONTO Sign, 2nd Floor, West Tower, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2

Submissions must include:

A formal request on the organization’s official letterhead, including the following details:

• The nature of the event, occasion, competition or cause
• The eligibility category that your lighting falls in to, i.e. a not-for-profit charitable occasion, or cause, an annual marquee event or a significant national/international/professional competition
• A signed copy of the declaration document or a clear indication in your submission that you have reviewed and are in compliance with the Declaration of Compliance with Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Legislation & City Policy
• The history and background of the event, occasion, competition or cause
• How the lighting will be used to benefit the event, occasion, competition or cause
• The requested date for the lighting
• The requested colour(s) and pattern for the lighting (i.e. colour per letter)
• A web link to more information on your event, occasion, competition or cause
• Where/how you will be promoting the lighting, i.e. social media, website, etc.
• Where the TORONTO Sign’s likeness may appear in any communications materials for this occasion
• A management representative’s signature (from the requesting organization)

Third party requests made on behalf of others:

The City cannot accept requests made by third parties on behalf of other organizations or individuals. All requests must be made by the organization itself to ensure that:

• They are aware and approve of the Sign being lit for their event, occasion, competition or cause
• The lighting is displayed in the correct colours/pattern that they desire
• The lighting occurs on the correct date that they desire

Evaluation Process

All requests will be reviewed by City of Toronto staff to ensure that they clearly adhere to the lighting criteria.

City of Toronto staff have full and final authority to implement the TORONTO Sign Celebratory and Commemorative Lighting Program criteria. By submitting a lighting request for the TORONTO Sign, the applicant agrees that the decisions of City staff are final.

Notification of Acceptance and Approval

• Staff will endeavour to provide notification of acceptance within two weeks of the date that the request was received.
• Lighting requests should not be submitted more than six months in advance.

A. Requirements and Criteria:

All 3D TORONTO Sign lighting requests must adhere to the following Overarching Criteria:

1. Must comply with the Declaration of Compliance with Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Legislation & City Policy
2. Must not be contrary to any City policy or bylaw
3. Must be non-denominational
4. Must be non-political
5. Must be non-commercial
6. Other than where specifically outlined in this criteria, the Sign will not be lit for individual personal occasions (e.g. birthdays, anniversaries)
7. Other than where specifically outlined in this criteria, lighting for any specific organization, cause, event or commemoration will only take place ONCE per calendar year

All applications must comply with the above noted criteria, as determined by the Chief of Protocol, in order to be considered.

B. Categories:

I. Festivals, events and causes

• The Sign can be lit upon request for major* public festivals and events that adhere to the overarching criteria
• The Sign will not be lit for commercial or corporate conferences and meetings
• For cause-related events, the Sign will be lit for the requesting organization’s cause, not the event
• The Sign will not be lit to profile the colour of an event’s corporate sponsors

*Special Events Office Event Category Definitions Categories A & B

II. Professional sports teams and athletes

The Sign will be lit annually for Toronto’s professional sports teams on the following occasions:

• First home game of the season
• First playoff game in a playoff series
• The deciding game in a playoff series
• In celebration of winning a playoff series
• When hosting pro league all-star games

III. Amateur sports competitions

The Sign can be lit upon request for international amateur sports competitions that are hosted in Toronto and/or include participation of Toronto and Canadian athletes on the following occasions:

• Opening Ceremony
• Closing Ceremony

The Sign can be lit upon request for local amateur sports teams that are representing or have brought honour to Toronto during national/international competitions on the following occasions:

• First game of competition
• Participation in the finals
• Upon winning

IV. National celebrations and historic commemorations

• The Sign will be lit annually for Canadian national celebrations
• The Sign will be lit annually for Canadian days of remembrance
• The Sign will be lit annually for significant days proclaimed by the City of Toronto to promote diversity
• The Sign will not be lit for historic commemorations and national days of other nations. (Please see the City of Toronto’s Flag Raising program for opportunities to commemorate these occasions)