toronto sign city hall

The iconic Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square will be replaced

The Toronto sign in Nathan Phillips Square has become one of the most iconic landmarks in the city ⁠— and it's about to be replaced. 

No need to worry though, it'll only be replaced by a stronger, more durable sign. 

According to the city of Toronto, the original sign was put up in July 2015 for the Toronto Pan American and Parapan American Games, and it was only meant to last a few weeks. 

"In response to the sign's popularity, the City extended its presence on the square indefinitely and it has become a Toronto landmark," the city says. 

But more than four years later, the beloved sign is showing signs of wear-and-tear and has needed ongoing repairs and enhancements. 

Because of the this, the city has decided to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) next week to begin the process to secure a new Toronto sign that will stand the test of time. 

The sign will essentially be a more durable replica of the original, and it's expected to be installed by the beginning of 2020. 

According to the city, the new sign "will be easier to clean, be made of waterproof material, and will have augmented lighting capacity and other creative features to support public engagement and interaction."

According to Tourism Toronto’s visitor survey, the Toronto sign was one of the top three most visited attractions in the city.

"A city’s visual icons are vital in marketing a destination," said Andrew Weir, Executive Vice President of Destination Development at Tourism Toronto. 

"The Toronto sign has quickly become one of Toronto’s most recognized landmarks and figures prominently in our marketing initiatives, as well as in the pictures shared by millions of visitors with their friends and families around the world.” 

Lead photo by

John Tory


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Canadian small town university rankings are now out and 3 in Ontario are top 10

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow claps back at Doug Ford's plan to kill new bike lanes in Ontario

Toronto's most epic Halloween party is back and it's already embroiled in controversy

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says Taylor Swift should 'stick with music'

Canada just got a 10 kg pure gold coin and the price tag is astonishing

Passenger films terrifying Ontario car crash but people aren't feeling any sympathy

Someone is trying to officially name Toronto's famous Graffiti Alley

Canadian parents can expect money from the government this week