Being Canada’s largest city and the fifth most populous one in North America, Toronto’s subway is extremely useful when travelling within the city. The Toronto subway, operated by the TTC (Toronto Transit Commission), is Canada’s first completed subway system. It was officially opened by Ontario Premier Leslie Frost and Toronto Mayor Allan Lamport on 30 March 1954. An extension was added in 1963 and the Bloor-Danforth Line opened in 1966.

Nowadays, Toronto’s subway has four lines: Bloor-Danforth, Scarborough RT, Sheppard and Yonge-University-Spadina.

On weekdays and Saturday, subway service runs from approximately 6:00 am to 1:30 am, but Sunday service begins at 9:00 am.

The Toronto subway has evolved within time to become more and more art oriented.

One of the most popular art pieces that can be seen in Toronto’s subway is called “Hockey Knights in Canada”. It is a pair of murals created by Charles Pachter in 1984 representing Toronto’s hockey team: The Maple Leafs.

The Spadina Line has many different art installations; amongst these ones can be named: Barren Ground Caribou, by Joyce Wieland; Tempo, by Gordon Rayner; Summertime Streetcar, by Gerald Zeldin; A Spadina Summer Under All Seasons, a colourful piece of art from the 1970s created by James Sutherland.

Although you might be in a hurry in Toronto’s subway, try to offer yourself some quality time to enjoy its art installations!

Learn more

For more information about living and eating in Toronto, check out these helpful articles and links:

Photo Credit: Wikipedia  (Museum TTC Subway Station)