Short Turns

From Employee Service Centre

July 2020

Annual student confirmation campaign

The annual student confirmation campaign will be underway beginning July 2020. TTC employees, with dependent children, between the ages of 21 and 25, enrolled in the benefit plan will soon receive a letter requesting confirmation of full-time student enrolment for the upcoming fall 2020 (September to December) and winter 2020 (January to April) academic year. This information can be obtained from the Registrar’s office or through the online student portal. The deadline to provide the required proof of full-time student enrolment is August 26, 2020, otherwise coverage for your over-21 dependent will terminate effective September 1, 2020. Kindly ensure that your address is current in order that you receive the correspondence in a timely manner. For address updates, please contact the Employee Service Centre at 416-362-7547 or by e-mail at myttc@ttc.ca.

Operational changes effective on July 2

June 2020

Starting on July 2, 2020, employees and customers will be required to wear a mask or face covering (with some exceptions) when travelling on the TTC. In addition, the TTC will resume collecting cash, tickets and tokens, as well as distributing paper transfers, on all buses. Riders will also be allowed to board buses through the front or rear doors. Customers paying by cash, tickets or tokens should use the front door, obtain a transfer and keep it with them as their Proof-of-Payment. Customers using Presto can enter the bus through either door and must tap their Presto card or Presto Ticket on the reader as they enter. The TTC Board approved these changes as part of the TTC’s recovery plan at its meeting on June 17.

From Property, Planning and Development

May 2020

Inglis Building passenger elevator will be out of service starting June 3

The Inglis Building passenger elevator, located at the north entrance of the building at Hillcrest, will be out of service from June 3, 2020 until at least October 21, 2020.

We recognize that this presents a challenge for employees or visitors who require the use of the elevator to physically access the upper floors. Please circulate this notice so they are aware of this elevator closure.

If you are aware of any employees that require an accommodation or if employees report to you that they require an accommodation, please immediately advise Rossanna Marcossian, Development Co-ordinator with Property, Planning and Development at 647-458-0951, Rossanna.Marcossian@ttc.ca.

People on the move

May 2020

Vehicles Group: Frank Trianni was appointed Acting Head of Streetcar Maintenance effective April 26, 2020.
Streetcar Maintenance: Frank O’Neill was appointed Acting Manager of Streetcar Carhouses effective April 26, 2020.
Rail Cars & Shops: David Cotter was appointed Foreperson – McCowan Carhouse effective March 30, 2020.
Rail Cars & Shops: Catinca Lazar was appointed Shops Office Clerk – Greenwood Shop effective March 29, 2020.
Rail Cars & Shops: Leonardo Candeloro was appointed Foreperson – Wilson Carhouse effective March 25, 2020.
Rail Cars & Shops: Rajeen Shanmuganathan was appointed Foreperson – Greenwood Carhouse effective March 25, 2020.
Rail Cars & Shops: Robert Johnson was appointed Supervisor – Greenwood Shop effective March 22, 2020.

People on the move

April 2020

CEO’s Office: Shabnum Durrani was appointed Head of the Corporate Communications Department effective March 30, 2020.
Safety & Environment: Christine Triggs was appointed Acting Manager – SH&E Policy & Strategy effective until July 10, 2020.
Safety & Environment: Scott Cameron was appointed Acting Manager – Safety Operations effective until June 6, 2020.
Safety & Environment: Jennifer Cerini was appointed Acting Senior Safety Inspector effective until August 15, 2020.

Office moves

April 2020

Staff from Procurement and Category Management moved from Hillcrest to offices at North York Centre, 9-5140 Yonge St. (above North York Centre Station).
Staff from Vehicle Programs moved from 250 Bloor St. to offices at North York Centre, 9-5140 Yonge St. (above North York Centre Station).

From Employee Development

March 2020

In response to COVID-19, effective March 17, all Employee Development classes (i.e. Leadership Development, professional development, first aid) will be postponed until April 6, 2020 at the earliest. Participants will be automatically withdrawn from Pathlore and cancellation notifications will be sent. For those participants who are scheduled for in-person training from an external vendor, note that many of them have suspended their offering or are alternatively providing a virtual experience. If your session is still scheduled, please speak to your Supervisor for the best course of action. For more information please call Kimna Seto at 416-393-3566.

ATC extended to Queen Station

February 2020

Subway operations on Automatic Train Control (ATC) signalling was extended to Queen Station on Feb 24. ATC is now in service between Vaughan Metropolitan Centre and Queen stations – more than half of Line 1 Yonge-University. As part of the work, a train cross-over was added north of King Station, providing more train flexibility during operational issues on Line 1. The next extension is planned for Rosedale Station in November. The entirety of Line 1 is scheduled to be converted to ATC by September 2022.

People on the move

January 2020

Deputy CEO’s Office: Robert Ricciuti was appointed Head of Service Delivery Control (acting) effective January 19, 2020.
CEO’s Office: Betty Hasserjian was appointed Chief Safety Officer (acting) effective January 11, 2020.
People Group: Dhaksayan Shanmuganayagam was appointed Head of the IT Services Department effective January 9, 2020.
CEO’s Office: Natalie Poole-Moffatt was appointed Chief Corporate Affairs Officer effective January 6, 2020.
Plant Maintenance: John Perri was appointed Manager – Communications Maintenance effective December 29, 2019.

People on the move

December 2019

Transit Enforcement Department: Jay Lawrence was appointed Head & Chief Special Constable (acting) effective December 8, 2019.
Transit Enforcement Department: Pamela Ashcroft was appointed Manager – Training & Logistical Support (acting) effective December 8, 2019.

Effective Jan.1, 2020, the functions of the Commission Services Department, currently under the Chief of Staff, will be incorporated under the Legal and Customer Communications departments.

People on the move

November 2019

Infrastructure & Engineering Group: Lou Narduzzo was appointed Head of the Subway Infrastructure Department effective November 3, 2019.
Infrastructure & Engineering Group: Peter Hrovat was appointed Head of the Streetcar Infrastructure Department effective November 17, 2019.

Sherbourne cycle track dedicated to Vice-Chair Heisey

October 2019

In September, Commissioners congratulated TTC Vice-Chair Alan Heisey who had the Sherbourne cycle track dedicated in his honour. Heisey is an avid cyclist who has played an important role in the conception of separated cycle tracks on Richmond, Adelaide and Sherbourne streets. The track along Sherbourne runs from Elm Avenue to Lake Shore Boulevard East and opened as Toronto’s first separated bike lane in 2013. Heisey has served on the TTC Board since 2012, and has chaired both the police and parking authority boards. Photo, from left: Deputy Mayor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Councillor James Pasternak and Heisey.

Transit Responsibilities Review Between The City & The Province

June 2019

City Planning staff is conducting customer awareness and consultation on Transit Implementation in the subway system. The Province introduced Bill 107: Getting Ontario Moving Act, which enables a series of changes to how transit is planned, designed and delivered in Toronto. More changes are expected later this year and in 2020. The City and Province are currently conducting a joint review of transit responsibilities. More information about the public consultation and survey is available at the City of Toronto website.  

June 3, 2019
Stations: Queen | Sheppard-Yonge | Kipling | Kennedy
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
June 6, 2019
Stations: Bloor-Yonge | Eglinton West | Eglinton | Scarborough Town Centre
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
June 11, 2019
Stations: Kipling | Eglinton West
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
June 12, 2019
Stations: Queen
Time: 12 noon to 2 p.m.
June 18, 2019
Stations: Sheppard-Yonge | Eglinton
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
June 21, 2019
Stations: Scarborough Centre | Kennedy
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
June 24, 2019
Stations: Bloor-Yonge | Osgoode
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
June 26, 2019
Stations: Bloor-Yonge | Osgoode
Time: 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Introducing the TTC Love Bus

June 2019

To kick-off Pride month the TTC debuted its Pride bus at Toronto City Hall’s Rainbow and Transgender Flag Ceremony. The bus has been specially wrapped with the Pride flag and includes the slogan “love drives us all” and hashtag #TTClovebus. The Pride bus will run on the 94 Wellesley route through the month of June. It will join the Pride Parade, along with TTC employees and their families and friends on Sun., June 23.

People on the move

April 2019

Service Delivery Group: Dwayne Geddes was appointed Head of Wheel-Trans (acting) effective March 30, 2019.
Plant Maintenance: Milan Vignjevic was appointed Manager – Communications Engineering effective April 1, 2019.
Plant Maintenance: Raheem Khamisa was appointed Manager – Project Office effective April 1, 2019.
Plant Maintenance: Bill Mylonas was appointed Foreperson – Wiring and Service Section effective April 14, 2019.
Plant Maintenance: David Hache was appointed Foreperson – Wiring and Service Section effective April 14, 2019.

Attention employees and pensioners

February 2019

TTC Health and Wellness would like you to know that Green Shield Canada Change4Life is holding a Health Risk Assessment Contest. When you complete the Health Risk Assessment on Green Shield’s Change4Life platform between January and February 24 you will be entered into a random weekly draw to win one of 150+ gift cards between $10 and $250 in value. To participate please visit: www.greenshield.ca, sign in or register, and once logged on click on Change4Life to enter the platform for the Health Risk Assessment and the contest.

Subway riders on Line 1 with Maple Leafs

February 2019

Auston Matthews and Frederik Andersen exit at Osgoode Station on their way to morning practice at Toronto City Hall on Feb. 7. Subway riders found themselves sitting beside and taking selfies with the Toronto Maple Leafs, in full uniform, as they took the train from Union Station to Osgoode to attend an outdoor practice at Nathan Phillips Square.

People on the move

January 2019

Customer Communications: Deborah Brown was appointed Head of the Customer Communications Department, effective January 4, 2019.
Service Delivery Group: Alan Cakebread was appointed Head of the Transit Enforcement Department, effective January 7, 2019.
Operations Group: Andrew Dixon was appointed Head of Transit Control (acting), effective January 13, 2019.
ATC Team: Michael Hazlett was appointed Operations Integration Specialist, effective January 13, 2019.

Customer Service Agents move into Yorkdale, Lawrence West

January 2019

Starting Jan. 6, Yorkdale and Lawrence West stations will be staffed with Customer Service Agents instead of Collectors. Customers can pay their fare with PRESTO cards as well as tickets, tokens or exact cash. The other stations staffed by Customer Service Agents are: Vaughan Metropolitan Centre, Highway 407, Pioneer Village, York University, Finch West, Downsview Park, Sheppard West and Wilson.

The TTC Board approved the Stations Transformation Program in 2016. In-station transition will also see Collector booth conversions, public information hubs, full-service fare-vending machines, upgraded fare lines and additional closed-circuit television cameras.

The TTC will stop selling tickets and tokens on Aug. 3. TTC tokens and tickets will no longer be accepted at the end of 2019.