Office of the Chief Executive

TTC recognizes Indigenous Heritage Month and Pride Month in June

This April, we introduced the TTC’s first Diversity & Culture Annual Report to the TTC Board. This Annual Report presents an update on how we did in the year since launching the 10-Point Action Plan for Diversity and Inclusion. In making equity, diversity and inclusion priorities for the TTC, we are building an organization where employees feel like they belong and our customers feel welcome.

This April, we introduced the TTC’s first Diversity & Culture Annual Report to the TTC Board. This Annual Report presents an update on how we did in the year since launching the 10-Point Action Plan for Diversity and Inclusion. In making equity, diversity and inclusion priorities for the TTC, we are building an organization where employees feel like they belong and our customers feel welcome.

As we continue our work in this important area, I am pleased to let you know that in June, we will once again recognize both Indigenous Heritage Month and Pride Month at the TTC with employee and customer campaigns. These campaigns provide opportunities for all of us to learn, gain greater understanding and broaden our horizons. I hope you will find both these campaigns helpful as we seek out ways to create a more just society and to celebrate diversity here at the TTC.

Indigenous Heritage Month
With advice and guidance from the Indigenous Council made up of TTC employees, we will recognize June as Indigenous Heritage Month across all our properties rather than National Indigenous History Month. Recognizing the month in this way better honours the strength of present-day Indigenous communities.

Throughout the month you will hear from Indigenous employees who will share their stories and experiences through posters and videos. Through their stories, these employees will teach us the origin behind terms we may use every day and the importance of using language that is more inclusive.

For the first time, Indigenous employees will share the beauty of their culture with us by holding a Pow Wow on June 25 at Mount Dennis Division. We will be sharing more information about the employee-led Pow Wow through all our communications channels throughout June. Stay tuned for more details.

Later this month, we will be wrapping several buses and streetcars to recognize National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21. The wrapped buses will go into service on June 19 and we will be sharing more information about them later this month.

Here at the TTC, we are working to decolonize our spaces and promote principles of Truth and Reconciliation, and ensure true representation of Indigenous voices. To accomplish this, we are collaborating with First Nations and Urban Indigenous Communities and employees, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations and Six Nations of the Grand River. With their assistance, we will be better able to appropriately recognize this month and create inclusive, welcoming spaces for Indigenous employees and customers all year round.

I want to thank all the employees who are participating in these campaigns for sharing their heritage and their experiences.

Pride Month
As in previous years, you will be able to see one of our wrapped buses on the 94 Wellesley route with Pride-themed artwork to celebrate the history, courage and diversity of Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities. This year, we have taken it one step further and we have wrapped a second bus as well as a Wheel-Trans vehicle.

This month, the Pride-themed vehicles will be stopping at worksites across the TTC so all our employees can share in the fun. We are sharing the schedule for when the wrapped vehicles will be visiting worksites across all the TTC’s communication channels. If you spot one of the Pride-themed vehicles, be sure to take a photo and share it on social media using #TTCPride.

If you’re visiting 1900 Yonge St. or our Hillcrest complex this month, look for the Progress Pride Flag, which will be flying all month. The flag celebrates the diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities and calls for a more inclusive society.

Beyond just this month, we would like to continue to share the stories and lived experiences of employees who identify as Indigenous and part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community on our internal communications channels. If you’d like to share your story, please email MyTTCWeekly@ttc.ca.

Recognizing Indigenous Heritage Month and Pride are important parts of our broader commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive transit system for everyone. We have done a lot of good work, but we all know there is still more to do as we continue to develop important programs and initiatives to address racism and discrimination.

Together, we will build a more inclusive TTC.

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
Chief Executive Officer
June 1, 2022