The Toronto Transit Commission board heard a presentation on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, proposing the use of Indigenous animal icons to help riders navigate subway stations. The proposal, dubbed 'Indigenous wayfinding,' was championed by TTC chairman Jamaal Myers but met with a lukewarm reception from board members and criticism from some constituents.
Pet Project Faces Opposition
Myers, a Scarborough councillor, had publicly promoted the presentation as a personal initiative. However, during the meeting, Councillor Paul Ainslie broke ranks with fellow board members, stating that some of his constituents found the idea 'insulted.' Ainslie insisted on a formal vote rather than a simple show of hands, which visibly frustrated Myers.
The vote passed five in favor, but it served as a rebuke since the board was only asked to acknowledge the presentation, not approve any changes. 'It's just to receive,' Myers said with a sigh, turning to vice-chairman Joe Mihevc. 'It wasn't supposed to go anywhere. It was just a presentation on what we can do.'
Presentation Details
Cameron Stewart, a former fellow in Myers' office, presented a slide deck on how the TTC could 'decolonize how people orient themselves.' He proposed pairing subway station exits with animal icons inspired by the seven grandfather teachings, which include love, honesty, and bravery. Stewart argued that 'every TTC station rests on Indigenous land,' making the proposal 'a long overdue acknowledgment.'
Myers noted that he was part of the first cohort of Indigenous fellows at the City of Toronto and that the idea originated from a comment by Mihevc. Stewart, who worked in Myers' office until May, presented the concept as a year-end project for his fellowship.
Mixed Reactions
While some board members, like Councillor Dianne Saxe, called the presentation 'great,' others were less enthusiastic. Citizen commissioner Liane Kim cited 'more pressing priorities,' such as safety and financial pressures, and worried that adding symbols would confuse riders. 'The cost and the energy put into putting pictures for wayfinding, I think, would just confuse people,' Kim said.
Ainslie echoed concerns about 'information overload' but emphasized his primary objection: 'I guess I have the second largest Indigenous area in the GTA, and I've talked with a number of members of it around using symbols from the seven grandfather teachings for wayfinding and nobody was really excited about it. I had a few people that were actually insulted by it.' He suggested exploring better ways to address truth and reconciliation within the TTC.
Councillor Alejandra Bravo noted that the proposal lacked a 'diversity imperative' and suggested that while letters and numbers work for some, images of Canadian wildlife like turtles and birds could benefit others. 'We all have different kinds of brains,' she said.
The TTC board ultimately voted to receive the presentation without endorsing any changes. The meeting also covered safety issues, customer dissatisfaction, and service closures.
