20 years ago in 2002

Sheppard Subway officially opens

The Sheppard Subway (Line 4), Toronto’s first subway line since 1966, was officially opened on November 22, 2002.

The opening ceremony was followed by a public open house at which time the public was invited to ride the Sheppard Subway free of charge, and visit the five new accessible stations, each featuring a unique work of art.

Entertainment was provided by a Dixieland Band and students from Claude Watson School for the Performing Arts. Baking and Pastry Arts students from George Brown College provided a gigantic lemon and vanilla cake, measuring 12 feet by six-and-a-half feet.

Sheppard-Yonge, Bayview, Bessarion, Leslie and Don Mills stations serve the 6.4-km route.

Groundbreaking for the $933.9-million Sheppard Subway began on June 23, 1994, and provided 14,600 years of jobs. Revenue service began on Sunday, November 24.