You are invited to attend and participate in the city’s  Public Consultation Meeting on Jan 29 @ 7pm, Toronto City Hall), in relation to a new City of Toronto Sign By-law (see flyer).

During the past few years, community activists have spoken out against the visual pollution in Toronto, caused by numerous, illegal billboards.  You may have heard about the Toronto Public Space Committee: “dedicated to protecting our shared common spaces from commercial influence and privatisation”.

The City of Toronto is preparing a new sign by-law. It will replace the individual sign by-laws of the former municipalities.  The new sign by-law will update the standards for signs on private property, address current sign issues, and reflect the diverse character found in Toronto communities. The Sign By-law project will also explore ways where signage will support the City’s efforts in energy conservation and revenue generation.

For information on project updates, please visit the City’s website.

A few items from the latest Toronto Public Space Committee (TPSC) newsletter:

• The TPSC is campaigning to get “truck billboards” off Toronto’s streets. These trucks drive around the city at the busiest times causing congestion, adding to smog and visual pollution.
• BikeFriday is an initiative to promote bike events happening in Toronto on the last Friday of every month, with the aim of turning that day into a de facto “Bike Day” that happens once per month.
• Visual pollution: have you noticed that advertising messages have become more prevelant throughout the city? IllegalSigns.ca is a grassroots community-based team of volunteers who fight illegal billboards. Here is one of several illegal billboards within Corktown.