Office of the Chief Executive

Last week, the TTC, in collaboration with the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and the WTS Toronto Area Chapter, held a special event on Women in Transit, with a focus on empowering women and female-identifying employees and encouraging their professional development.

The inaugural event at our Hillcrest Complex was designed to fuel our talented workforce’s career growth and personal development. Chief People Officer Shakira Naraine helped to moderate the proceedings and panellists included Kirsten Watson, President – WTS Toronto Area Chapter, Shabnum Durrani, Acting President of COMTO, and Streetcar Transportation Head Deb Lyon discussing topics that included Building Trust and Relationships as well as Career Development and Mentorship. Participants gained valuable insights into career planning, professional growth, and the pivotal role mentorship plays in propelling careers forward.

The event was extremely well-received and more events will be scheduled soon.

The TTC continues its work to provide career development and mentorship opportunities for women. As a prime example, the Female Operator Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program has close to 100 mentors who support female probationary Operators across all modes.

Original Yonge Subway turns 70
​I would like to wish Canada’s First Subway a very special happy birthday. This weekend, March 30, the original Yonge Subway marks its 70th anniversary since its official opening on that date in 1954.

The Yonge line stretched 7.4 kilometres from Eglinton to Union and included 12 stations: Eglinton, Davisville, St Clair, Summerhill, Rosedale, Bloor, Wellesley, College, Dundas, Queen, King, and Union. It was Canada’s first subway line and the first post-war subway to be built in North America. Construction began in 1949 and required 10,000 tons of structural steel, 14,000 tons of reinforcing steel, 4,200 tons of rail steel, 420 tons of cast iron pipe, 1.4 million bags of cement, and 170,000 tons of sand to complete the project..

The Yonge line was built at a cost of $67 million – including the TTC’s shiny new Red Gloucester trains from England.

Stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
​Chief Executive Officer
​March 29, 2024