Office of the Chief Executive

June is an important month here at the TTC, as we recognize Indigenous Peoples Month and Pride — essential parts of our broader commitment to build a more equitable and inclusive transit system for everyone. This June, I encourage you to participate in the below-mentioned events and learn something new about these diverse communities.

Indigenous Peoples Month
​This year's Indigenous Peoples Month campaign theme is Carrying our stories. Throughout the month, we will be showcasing First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities’ stories and contributions through vehicle wraps, posters in our stations and workplaces, various special events as well as an internal employee campaign.

We kicked off Indigenous Peoples Month earlier this week with an event during National AccessAbility Week at Lakeshore Division. It featured a Wheel-Trans bus wrapped with art by Indigenous artist Shawn Howe, Queer Earth, a mural representing 2Spirited/IndigiQueer people.

As in past years, we will also hold several events across the commission, including sunrise ceremonies at 5:15 a.m. on June 1, 21 and 28 at Downsview Park Station, Lakeshore Division and McNicoll Garage, respectively. These are great opportunities for employees to get involved and learn more about Indigenous culture.

This month, we have also worked with our Indigenous community partners to translate the names of four TTC stations (Spadina, North York Centre, Old Mill and Victoria Park) into three different Indigenous languages as a way to educate our customers and celebrate the contributions of Indigenous communities here in Toronto. Also, this month's Ride Guide will feature Indigenous art on the cover and a list of Indigenous events happening in June in the city.

Pride Month
​June is also Pride Month, a time to celebrate the history, courage, and diversity of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. To start off the month, employees participated in a flag-raising ceremony of the Pride Progress Flag earlier today at Hillcrest Complex. We were joined by TTC Chair Jamaal Myers, as well as TTC employees who shared their experiences as members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The flag will also be at head office for all of June.

Our Pride celebrations continue throughout the month with an internal poster campaign, featuring TTC employees, as well as content on TVs and here in the Weekly. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped to bring this important campaign to life.

We've also continued our tradition of wrapping a 94 Wellesley bus with Pride-themed artwork to celebrate the diversity of Toronto's 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and we will once again participate in the Pride Toronto festival on the weekend of June 23. The bus design leverages the Toronto Pride theme for this year, focusing on the fundamental right of 2SLGBTQ+ community to simply BE. It is an important message as we aim to create a more inclusive and diverse environment by promoting acceptance and equality. I hope you will enjoy seeing the bus as much as I did.

I am so proud of the great work the TTC is doing to make this a more welcoming and inclusive organization.

Take care and stay safe.

Richard J. Leary
​Chief Executive Officer
​May 31, 2024