TTC celebrates 100 years on the tracks

Torontosun.com
Sept. 2, 2021
Veronica Henri

The Toronto Transit Commission turned 100 years young on Sept 1, 2021.

However, pre-TTC transit history starts a bit earlier in Toronto.

“In 1861, transit started in Toronto and it was horse-drawn streetcars ... and then in 1892, the first electric streetcar replaced them,” explained Scott Haskill, head of project development and planning for the TTC.

It wasn’t until 1921 that the Toronto Transit Commission set up operations by consolidating numerous transit systems in Toronto.

Mayor John Tory officially proclaimed Sept. 1 as “ TTC Centenary Day.”

The TTC celebrated this milestone with a display of historic vehicles at the Roncesvalles Carhouse, including a streetcar from 1921, and the oldest GM bus, built in 1980. The vehicles changed drastically over the years, along with so many other challenges.

“The TTC has lots of issues right now, as the whole transit agency does from recovering from the pandemic,” said Haskill. “Before the pandemic, we were at record-ridership levels ... we think we are going to get back to that point.”

Setbacks have not stopped the TTC from commemorating the 100-year milestone.

Throughout the month of September, historical photo exhibits will be displayed in selective stations, commemorative TTC100 transfer tickets are ready for collectors, along with various other celebrations. For instance, starting Sept. 13, the public can try out a TTC augmented reality filter on Instagram, which allows you to see what you would look like as a historic TTC employee.