This estimated capacity that would soon render the streets of Toronto irreparably clogged, was primarily due to the original street measurements carried out according to the British chain measurement of 66 ft. While this width in pavement may have once been sufficient for the languid carriage rides of British folk making a trip into the city, it was simply not compatible with the heavy flow of rushed and irritated driver’s of Toronto’s modern day.

In 1943 the initial preliminary sketches and blueprints were first drawn up for what would be the heart and centre of the system, Young Street subway station. Thus in January of 1946, after receiving an enthusiastic rubber stamp from the citizens of Toronto, the subway system’s construction officially commenced having received a 10 to 1 in vote in its favour.

The city burst out into booming celebration that summer. A festive shrill flowed jauntily from the orchestra’s bagpipes and politicians of the city made optimistic speeches with wide grins cast across their faces. With a meager 400,000 people at the time, compared to today’s almost 3 million, the city began to feel slow rumblings beneath their very feet, which would soon lead to the long and labouring process that would serve them with tremendous growth as they neared the 21st century.

As with any new change, an air of mystery and curiosity was blanketed over the city. The blaring drilling of the machinery and the sweeping skyline of colourful cranes spanning across the office building windows was a promise of glitz and glamour that undoubtedly kept the public intrigued. While the esteemed men, complete with tin hard hats and official orange jackets, proudly endured the arduous work that left them panting in the sweltering summer heat, the citizens of Toronto found great pride and entertainment in the new urbanization of their city. The public was so fascinated in fact, that a new group of “sidewalk superintendents” cropped up, composed of everyone from hurried business men to jovial children to leisurely women in hoop skirts from all walks of life who would fill up the sidewalks with glee and excitement. As if they were pressing their noses up against the glass at a sports arena, they would marvel at the grand excavations and innovations that were taking place right in front of them, forming colourful and exuberant teeming crowds around what seemed like the most dramatic transformation the city had ever seen. One particularly invested member of the enamoured citizens even began their own popular publication, which regularly ran editions centred around describing and delivering the progress of the subway’s construction.

Even with the tremendous excitement and overwhelming support from the citizens, the job was draining and brain wracking. Throughout the 5 years of continuous construction, engineers of the highest calibre were busy rapidly studying the logistics of transit systems, planning and preparing for the proposed route of each train. While this took place mostly behind the scenes and not in the way of the average citizen’s view, it was certainly vital in the construction of the well honed system that we can all ride with ease today.

The post Vintage Photographs from the Construction of the Toronto Subway appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

The Trolley will have its World Premiere at the Hot Docs Film Festival (April 26 to May 6, 2018) with a free screening on Saturday, May 5th at the Cinesphere, Ontario Place at 3 pm. Tickets must be reserved in advance.

We had a chance to chat with filmmaker Stephen Low recently about this incredible film and thoughts on our transit system…

What’s your favourite streetcar route in Toronto?

I like King Street because it’s among the most interesting and much faster and more effective now that the cars are mostly out of the way.

Where do you prefer to sit?

I like to sit all over the place and even walk around during the journey. I like to stretch my legs and often don’t sit at all.

Why do you think Torontonians have a love/hate relationship with public transit? Do other cosmopolitan cities embrace their public transit systems better?

I think Toronto and indeed all Canadian cities are still car dominated long after automobiles have become dangerous, wasteful and ineffective in large cities all over the world. Governments love cars because of the stupendous taxes generated from fuel, sales taxes, licensing and on and on. And they seem not to care if people can’t get to work.

What inspired you to create this documentary?

A number of politicians were fond of saying that “the streetcars are always getting in the way” and other such nonsense, oblivious to the fact that they carry a hundred times more people (and now hundreds of times more people) than a few SUV jerks blocking them at every intersection.

What kind of democracy favours a handful of private motorists over hundreds of people trying to get home using public transit? It’s even more obscene when you consider that electric rail is potentially fossil free. (and already is fossil free in many cities around the world.) Calgary’s light rail is powered by wind mills– they call it “riding the wind!”

What have you learned from visiting the various trolley systems around the world?

Great public transit makes possible cleaner, quieter, safer, more affordable cities with far more public space. It’s quite simply a better way to live. People are thinner and healthier too and probably more social. Many cities grass over their rail lines improving drainage, acoustics, and aesthetics too.

Do you have a prestocard?

I don’t have one because I’m not currently living in Toronto. But when I come back I will certainly get one.

Any thoughts on the hotly debated King Street Pilot Project?

It works great. I think it’s just the first step in getting cars completely out of the way of emission free rail transit. Private cars were always the ones in the way— an obscenity that should have never been allowed in the first place.

Most of the worlds people seek to live in cities. It’s imperative that we provide highly efficient, clean zero emission transportation for these billions of people.

If we stupidly cling to bad ideas like fossil producing automotive gridlock we’re doomed. It’s really that simple.

The post Hot Docs: Interview with “The Trolley” filmmaker Stephen Low appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

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Tokens4Change has programs running all year long that are run by Youth Without Shelter (YWS) and its partners that share information about the needs of disadvantaged youth in Toronto with students, aiming to put a dent into youth homelessness. The program’s big day is Tokesns4Change Day, a day whose mission is to end youth homelessness one youth, one step and one donation at a time. This year’s goal is to raise $101,000. To date, Tokens4change has raised more than $550,000.

Here are some of the highlights and best times to catch some of the performances:

-8:30 am – 12:30 pm at Ryerson Amphitheatre: dance performances by Central Toronto Academy students

-8:30 am – 12:30 pm at Yonge-Eglinton Centre: spoken word poetry by Havergal College students

-10:00 am – 1:00 pm at 10 Dundas East: Live mural creation by Hodgson School students

-11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Spadina Station: theatre performances by Crescent School students

-1:30 pm at Tangerine Downtown Toronto Cafe: huge arts showcase, featuring 
several student performances and inspiring words by youth who have experienced homelessness

Full list of Tokens4Change TTC Stations:

Bathurst, Bay, Bloor-Yonge, College, Don Mills, Downsview, Dufferin, Eglinton, Finch, Islington, King, Osgoode, Queen, Queen’s Park, Sheppard-Yonge, Spadina, St. George, St. Patrick, York University.

Full list of Tokens4Change PATH, Office and School Locations:

Bay-Adelaide Centre, Bloor Islington Place, Brookfield Place, Hudson Bay Centre, Royal Bank Plaza, Ryerson University Amphitheatre, Yonge-Eglinton Centre, 10 Dundas East.

For more information on how to get involved visit YWS.on.ca and Tokens4change.com

The post Tokens4Change city-wide student art activism event helping end youth homelessness appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Today’s daily photo from Toronto comes from Gary Cummins. Check out his page for more of his images from around the city.

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