Yesterday, the TTC Board voted on several major reports and staff recommendations on the public agenda. This was the first Commission meeting of the year and I took the opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our workforce through what has been a challenging few weeks with a record snowstorm and ongoing public demonstrations and road closures disrupting service in the city.

On service, two major items were approved by Board members: the 2022 Annual Service Plan and a status update on the Cross-Boundary Service Integration Plan. Most notably, the Service Plan prepares us for the introduction of Line 5 Eglinton operations later this year.

On fares, the Board endorsed two separate reports: Fare Collection Modernization and Advancing the 5-Year Fare Policy. Both reports address our need to keep pace with changing technologies and achieve broader fare integration.

On the capital program, Commissioners approved the Transit Network Expansion Update. This report summarized several priority projects and programs, including major TTC capacity enhancements, City expansion projects and Provincial subway and LRT programs. The Board also received a status report on the Easier Access Phase III project to make our subway system fully accessible by 2025.

Please see below for more highlights of Commission decisions approved on February 10.

Earlier this week, TTC Recreation Council, in partnership with Toronto Police, COMTO and TTC union partners, kicked off a sock drive to support several homeless shelters in Toronto. The donation drive runs until February 25 and aims to collect 10,000 pairs of socks.

I encourage you to contribute to this exemplary mission and make a donation at any transportation division, or in the lobby of the Gunn and Inglis buildings at Hillcrest or Head Office above Davisville Station. Employees can also choose to make a monetary donation by sending an e-transfer to [email protected]. 

Please remain vigilant and stay safe.

From February 5 to 10, 2022, 66 TTC employees or contractors tested positive for COVID-19 (by either a rapid antigen test or a PCR test) or reported having COVID-19 symptoms.

If you develop new or worsening symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please stay home and notify your manager or supervisor.

February - Black History Month

February 1 to 14 - Lunar New Year celebrations

February 14 - Valentine's Day

February 15 - Lantern Day

February 15 - Nirvana Day (Buddhism)

February 16 - Magha Puja Day (Buddhism)

February 17, 1-2 p.m. - History of race and racism in Canada webinar, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI). Register on the CCDI website

February 17, 7-8:30 p.m. - Pension Plan Overview Webinar, TTC Pension Plan. Find more information on the TTC Pension Plan website

February 20 - World Day of Social Justice

February 21 - Family Day

February 21 - International Mother Language Day

February 23 - Pink Shirt Day

February 25 - Intercalary Days begins (Baha’i)

February 26, 2-3:30 p.m. - Pension Plan Overview Webinar, TTC Pension Plan. Find more information on the TTC Pension Plan website

Looking to include a date in Mark Your Calendar? Email us at [email protected].

See a list of all 2022 statutory holidays for non-union employees.

See all the 2022 observances in this year's desk calendar.

For Lunar New Year, Commissioner Cynthia Lai shares her special traditions for the festivity, and passes along well wishes to TTC employees. Read the Q&A below to learn more.

When Chieh (Matt) Huang, Bus Operator at Eglinton Division, thinks about Lunar New Year, the first thing that comes to mind is family.

His memories of Lunar New Year go back to his childhood, when he and his family would light firecrackers to scare away bad spirits and encourage a safe year. Prior to the pandemic, Matt recalls looking forward to joining his extended family for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, where they would stay up until midnight to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new one. New Year’s Day is spent visiting family.

“It means a lot to me that I get to see the family that lives far away during Lunar New Year,” he said. “It’s a happy time.”

Matt says he is excited to see the TTC recognizing Lunar New Year for the first time organization-wide, because it gives employees who celebrate a chance to share this joyful time with others.

“It makes us feel a sense of belonging within the company,” he said.

Recreation Councils and employee volunteers celebrated the Lunar New Year with displays at their divisions.

Display created by Ho-Nam Chow and Mark Reed

Display created by Jimmy Chu and Sam Chow

Display created by Christina Barry

TTC employees also shared their wishes for the Lunar New Year to enter for a chance to win a set of day passes to the Toronto Zoo. Winners will be announced shortly. In the meantime, click on the image on the right to view wishes from your colleagues!

Performances taking place in stations February 9-14, 2022

Since 1980, the Underground Sounds TTC Subway Musicians Program has been enriching the atmosphere of TTC subway stations for our customers and brightening their daily commutes, with licensed musical acts performing across 30 TTC stations. After a hiatus due to COVID-19 restrictions, music is returning to TTC stations, with a focus on showcasing Asian and Black artists this February in support of Lunar New Year and Black History Month.

Featured artist, Leo Zhang, is a classically trained cellist who has been performing underground as a TTC musician for 18 years. Leo started on the violin when he was a child living in China, and later transitioned to cello. You can check out a performance by Leo on YouTube or in person at Bloor-Yonge Northbound platform on February 14, 2022, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. alongside fellow subway musicians Natalie Wong and Martin Kuwawi.

Note: the video on the left was recorded in 2012, pre-pandemic.

Some of the other featured artists include: Adam Solomon, Murray Luck, Michelle Rumball, Momo Cummings and Kalli Lang (pictured below) and Charmie Deller.

Catch some of these featured TTC Subway Musicians performing at: Islington Station, Spadina Station, Bloor-Yonge Station (Northbound), Dundas West Station, Kipling Station, Runnymede Station and Dundas Station.

This month, the TTC is recognizing eight local Black artists and artists of African descent, while celebrating and showcasing Black and African forms of expression across the city. Black History Month also provides an opportunity for the TTC to reflect on the work we’re doing to build a more inclusive and equitable organization for our customers and employees.

We have partnered with the City of Toronto’s StreetARToronto (StART) Program to showcase 16 unique art pieces and share the stories of eight artists representing Black communities in Toronto.

Visit the TTC's Black History Month webpage to learn more about the artists behind these amazing bus wraps, including Leyland Adams, Evond 'MEIDAH' Blake, Jacquie Comrie, Elicser Elliott, Adrian Hayles, Leone McComas, Jessey 'Phade' Pacho and Curtia Wright.

You can also download our Ride and Find Guide to discover these street art murals across Toronto.

First Black lawyer hired by the TTC and author of Driven to Succeed

When: Monday, February 28, 2022 - 12 to 1 p.m.,

Register: Visit the COMTO Eventbrite page

Steve D. Anderson is a veteran lawyer with the TTC’s Legal Department and has received a number of awards for his distinguished service. His career at the TTC began as a student collector and later as a general labourer at Duncan Shops and Greenwood Yard.

Along with practicing law at the TTC, Steve is also the Deputy Mayor of Shelburne, Ontario. Steve has been named one of the Top 50 Jamaicans in the GTA by the Toronto Star. He is also newly minted author. His Book, Driven to Succeed was released in October of 2021 and chronicles his journey. Steve’s book is currently on Amazon or available on his website at www.driventosucceed.ca.  

To wrap up Black History Month, join COMTO Toronto & Region to learn more about Steve’s story and the role employers can play in creating a welcoming environment.

Throughout February, the TTC will be celebrating the achievements and contributions of Black employees through written profiles, videos and posters across TTC work locations. This week, the spotlight is on Keshia Anglin, Bus Operator, and Marsha Seymour, Senior Clerk.

Keshia Anglin, a Bus Operator at Mount Dennis Division, is an advocate for inclusivity. Last year, she had the opportunity to participate in a display honouring Black History Month at her division and reflects fondly on seeing Operators from other divisions come and appreciate the display. Keshia was also proud to drive one of the buses wrapped with images celebrating Canadian Black excellence. Keshia recalls this as a “feel good moment” for 2021.

In her time at the TTC, Keshia has appreciated the inclusive nature of her workplace. She is proud to see the TTC’s focus on diversity, inclusion and supporting Black employees.

“It makes us feel like we are included and accepted, and that we’re not just here to be here - like we’re not just a number or a quota,” she said.

When it comes to inclusion, Keshia highlights that the most important feeling as an employee is not only to feel heard, but to know that the ideas brought forward are put into action.

This year Keshia, along with a very supportive group at Mount Dennis, have completed yet another elaborate display for Black History Month and is proud of its success. She hopes that all employees get the opportunity to stop by and see it for themselves.

“The social committee at Mount Dennis really lets me spread my wings every year, and I’m so grateful to have such a supportive team.”

Marsha Seymour is a Senior Clerk at Hillcrest Complex for Signals and Train Control Engineering, and has been with the TTC since 2019. Her favourite part about working at the TTC is working in a happy and positive environment with a friendly team.

To Marsha, an inclusive workplace values diversity and employee perspectives. Having a diverse employee-base allows companies to increase their talent, creativity and contributions. She sees Black History Month as an opportunity for all employees to celebrate her ancestors, to understand the struggles of Black people, to reflect on what work still needs to be done to address issues of racism and discrimination, and most importantly, a reminder of the beauty of being Black.

Marsha believes that, “Black History Month is a time to participate in festivities and events that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and People of Colour around the world.”

See this Safety Notice, shared on February 4, for helpful information about:

Brian Merits is the Project Manager responsible for the Metrolinx Ontario Line (OL) project, including Queen Street work. Brian is a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario and a Project Management Professional with over 20 years of experience in transportation engineering and construction.

Brian has supported cross-functional teams to deliver infrastructure projects through all phases of the project lifecycle including Sheppard-Yonge Station construction, Victoria Park Bus Terminal Replacement civil design, the McNicoll Bus Garage design-build project, Wilson Yard storage track expansions, Wilson Carhouse expansion to accommodate TR vehicles, Relief Line scope design development for two stations, as well as various other state-of-good-repair projects.

For the past 13 years, Brian has worked in the capacity of Senior Project Engineer in various departments at the TTC and in doing so has gained a wealth of knowledge in project delivery methods including, but not limited to, design-bid-build (DBB) and design-build (DB). Prior to joining the TTC, Brian worked for EllisDon Construction and URS Corporation. Brian holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

Ayaz Rahman is the Project Manager responsible for the Metrolinx Scarborough Subway Extension (SSE) project. Ayaz brings approximately 25 years of civil engineering experience specifically in Transportation Projects.

Recently, Ayaz spent six years with the TTC Subway Infrastructure Maintenance Engineering section as a Senior Engineer where he managed a team of up to eight professional engineers and EITs to manage Track and Structure maintenance activities, rail defects root cause analysis and multi-years engineering services consultant contracts. Previously, Ayaz had worked at the City of Toronto's Engineering and Construction Services, at consulting firm CH2M Hill, and at the Ministry of Transportation Ontario.

Ayaz graduated from The University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor in Civil Engineering and his advanced graduate level projects included “Urban Transportation Methods and Transportation Modeling.”

Milan Vignjevic is the Project Manager responsible for the Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE) project, with the additional responsibility to look after all the Systems scope for all the expansion projects.

Milan has been with the TTC since 1997 and has worked within the Communications Engineering department in various progressive positions. He has worked as an Assistant Design Engineer, Design Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Project Manager, Manager – Project Office and Manager – Communications Engineering. He brings with him many years of experience and expertise in his field.

Dominic Tiano brings 30 years of engineering and construction experience to his new role, including 16 years working in the TTC Engineering Department in various positions, including Manager – Technical Review Metrolinx, Manager – Standards and, most recently, as Director – Technical Support. Prior to joining the TTC, Dominic was a Project Manager at URS Corporation. In the past 10 years, Dominic has gained a wealth of knowledge in project delivery methods working on the Metrolinx LRT and Expansion projects. The experience he brings working with the Metrolinx project teams and the LRT ProjectCo Consortiums during the design and construction of the LRT projects will be an asset to his new role.

Dominic will be responsible for interfacing with the Metrolinx Subway Program for all Engineering work, including Design Reviews, Integration, Testing and Commissioning and Safety Certification, and coordinating with internal stakeholders/departments for all Engineering matters.

Dominic is an Associate member of OACETT and holds an Architectural Technologist Diploma from Centennial College.

Suma Apparao-Das is the Project Manager responsible for the Metrolinx Yonge North Subway Extension (YNSE). Suma has been with the TTC since 2008, and started her TTC career within the Communications Engineering department as an Assistant Design Engineer and Design Engineer.

She later worked as a Project Engineer on transit expansion projects, including Transit City and the Line 1 subway extension to Vaughan Metropolitan Station. She then joined the Construction Department as a Senior Project Engineer, working on state of good repair projects within the Bus portfolio, and later joined the Transit Expansion department as a Senior Project Engineer, working on the Yonge North Subway Extension.

Most recently, Suma has been working on the Waterfront LRT project within the Major Projects department as a Senior Project Engineer. She has a Professional Engineers license in Ontario, and a Project Management Professional certificate.

Brian McGuire appointed Operations and Stations Subject Matter Expert, effective January 24, 2022

Brian McGuire has over 20 years of experience at the TTC having started as a summer student in 1996 with Plant Maintenance. In 2002, Brian joined the Transit Control Centre as a dispatcher, working his way through at the radio communications desk, as a subway wayside supervisor and finally developing the communications standard for the Centre.

In 2003, Brian joined the newly formed Stations department as a Station Supervisor in the Central Zone stationed at Yonge and Bloor, and was promoted to Duty Station Manager in the same zone. As the Duty Station Manager Brian developed training programs and procedures focusing on overcrowding. Brian also backfilled in the Group Station Manager role in the Central Zone on several occasions before joining the Transit Expansion Assurance Team on secondment.

Brian will provide operations support for both Stations and Transit Control for all Provincial Subway Projects.

Have you gotten your third COVID-19 dose yet? The TTC has made it easy for employees to receive their vaccine booster with clinics held across the commission. These clinics are open to family members (18+), as well as TTC employees, consultants, and contract workers with TTC IDs.

February 16, 2022, Leslie Barns (rescheduled from Feb. 3)

An appointment is required. To book your timeslot, visit https://bit.ly/TTC-employee-boosters to access the third-party booking site.

Moderna boosters will be available. You are eligible for your booster shot 84 days after your last COVID-19 vaccination.

The clinic at Sheppard Distribution Centre on February 11 has been cancelled, and will be rescheduled to a new location and date (to be announced).

In December 2021, TTC operator Larry Hazan surprised his partner and fellow operator Michelle Hapco by popping the question just after she completed her training to join the TTC team.

All the best to the happy couple!

Drop off socks for donation at:

Transit Control Lobby - Hillcrest

1900 Yonge Street - Head Office

Inglis Building Main Floor - Hillcrest

All transportation divisions

Or e-Transfer monetary contributions to [email protected]

TTC employees can receive a 20 per cent discount on admission at the Hockey Hall of Fame, as well as 10 per cent off at the Spirit of Hockey store.

See this poster for more details and a TTC employee discount code.

Check out the full list of employee discounts on the Recreation Council's new MyTTC | SAP Jam employee app page.

Follow these instructions to download and activate the SAP Jam app on your mobile device.

For more information and a list of all current job postings, visit the Employee Career Centre on MyTTC | Home. Log in with your MyTTC username and password.

By Michelle Zadikian, BNN Bloomberg, February 7, 2022

"The new system would allow all customers to travel for free after reaching a certain number of trips in a pre-determined period of time rather than purchasing a monthly pass at the beginning of the month, according to the report.

In the report, staff say the benefits of the TTC’s current monthly pass have 'diminished' and fare capping will 'better address customer needs.'"

"This week, TTC buskers are returning to the underground stage in celebration of Lunar New Year and Black History Month, according to emails shared with the Star between artists and the TTC’s special events department. It’ll be the first time artists will play for commuters since the pandemic cancelled their gigs."