Traffic Graphic

 

Location: Outside the Simcoe Place Parking Garage, 200 Front St. W.

Date photo taken: 25 March 2013

This terrific graphic is located on the pillars which flank the entrance to the Simcoe Place parking garage on Front Street. Obviously it’s intended to inform the public of traffic patterns around the entrance to help keep everyone safe, but it’s also awesome. Also in the category of keeping people safe, a member of the police force is on hand during the evening rush hour to help manage traffic flow. Perhaps this focus on safety is a reflection of the building's tenant: The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board.

Fur Trading Relief

Location: Commerce Court North Building, south side
Date photo taken: 3 November 2012

The Commerce Court North building at King and Bay Streets, completed in 1931 to house the headquarters of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, is a gorgeous example of Art Deco architecture. Not only is it capped with a series of massive carved heads (check out this awesome Flickr picture), but there are carvings galore to be appreciated at ground level. The reliefs depict Canadian wildlife, plants and iconic enterprises, as well as scenes of gods and goddesses associated with commerce. The carvings were done by William Dawson of Montreal and Peter Thomson of Toronto. This particular relief which depicts fur trading can be found on the south side of the building.

To read more, see Creating Memory, by John Warkentin.