Some Toronto residents have been noticing TTC signage explaining the Indigenous etymology of the names of city subway stations.
“Have you noticed these new station names with their origin signs…It’s nice to know how the names were formed,” a person wrote on Reddit, alongside a photo of the new sign at Spadina Station on Thursday.
The signs were added in June as part the TTC’s Indigenous Peoples’ Month campaign, the transit commission told Now Toronto, and can be found at North York Centre, Old Mill, and Victoria Park stations.
“As we seek to play a part in reconciliation, our organization aims to have consistent, authentic, and meaningful approaches to consultation, with greater cultural safety within TTC staff at every level,” The TTC said in a press release when the signs were revealed.
The English names of the stops were translated into their multiple Indigenous languages by Lena Recollet (Anishnaabemowin),Catherine Tammaro (Wyandot), Dr. Craig Kopris (Wyandot Translations), and Jeremy Green (Kanien’kéha).
The signs continue to be received favourably by those who come across them.
“That’s honestly really cool. I’ve always found the origins of words and language super neat, so I’d like to see more stuff like this,” someone else commented.
“Thank you, TTC, let’s see more of this,” another person said.
Some were even calling to have signs like this at all stations at all times.
“This should be permanent and they should do this at every station, it’s an easy piece of culture building,” one Reddit user wrote.
When the campaign was launched back in June it was described in a press release by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers as a “crucial moment for education, awareness-building, and the dismantling of systemic racism and anti-Indigenous discrimination.”
