toronto sign

The Toronto sign is being replaced and a small town in Ontario wants it

Toronto may be getting rid of its iconic sign to replace it with a more durable version, so why shouldn't another town inherit it?

It seems like they just might. 

According to CTV News, residents of a small town just one hour east of Toronto called Orono often refer to themselves as "Toronto without the T's," and they're hoping to be the sign's new home. 

Orono residents have reached out to Mayor John Tory in request of the sign ⁠— they're hoping it'll help boost their struggling tourism industry. 

Mark Rutherford, an Orono resident, told CTV the town used to get hundreds of thousands of travellers each year.

That was until a newly-installed highway divider, intended to improve traffic safety, diverted people away.

Rutherford told CTV the town's businesses began to struggle due to the lack of visitors, and in the past year alone they've lost a grocery store, an LCBO, a CIBC bank, and other small shops, too. 

Each letter in the sign stands individually, so residents are hoping to receive only the letters necessary for their town's name. 

Still, Tory told CTV he's willing to talk to them but doesn't think the sign should be broken up. 

"We need more love for Toronto in the province of Ontario, including from Orono, so maybe we can do something where some of the time it's lit up saying Orono and the rest of the time lit up saying Toronto," Tory said. 

But Rutherford said Orono would even be willing to accept the T's if need be — anything to help get the town back on its feet. 

Lead photo by

Dustin William


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Canada is seeing one of the worst standard-of-living declines in 40 years

Tributes pour in after death of Toronto City Councillor Jaye Robinson

It's going to get way easier to pay transit fare in Toronto with your phone

TTC literally just gave CEO Rick Leary an award days after chaotic subway shutdown

An aggressively spreading invasive species is completely taking over a Toronto park

50 tourist attractions in downtown Toronto you need to visit at least once

Stunning new lookout point overlooking Toronto wetland opens this summer

Stunning new Toronto transit station will link several TTC and GO lines