The number of selfie-worthy sites in the City of Toronto has gone up by one.
Two local artists have created a brand new sign for the city, rivalling the Instagram-famous version that stands in Nathan Phillips Square.
Positioned on an outcrop at Humber Bay Park, the driftwood sign is aptly placed on Lake Ontario to feature Toronto’s skyline in the background.
Toronto designer Julie Ryan and artist Thelia Sanders-Shelton worked in secret for seven days to put together the nameplate. It was the first time either of them had worked with driftwood.
"The biggest challenge is getting the pieces to fit together," Ryan told CTV Toronto.
Speaking to CP24, Ryan added, “Whenever we were getting tired there were so many people coming by [the sign] and it just rejuvenated us.”
Seeing the finished product took both artists by surprise.
"It was like a good cup of coffee first thing in the morning,” Sanders-Shelton told CTV Toronto.
Tourists also found the sign a refreshing alternative to the famed City Hall version.
"The one in the city centre is really touristy,” said Haini Pekkala, a tourist from Finland. Pekkala said the driftwood sign provides a more artistic take.
The best part, Ryan told CTV Toronto, was seeing the interaction between those queuing up to catch a glimpse.
“What thrilled me the most was how kind everybody was with each other. They lined up, there was no pushing, young people were helping older people across.”
The nameplate is a spin-off of a similar project the pair created for Canada Day – a sign that read “150,” embellished with Canadian flags.
“It got such a great response,” Sanders-Shelton said. “We thought why don’t we do a Toronto sign to sort of juxtapose the straight lines of the city to that of the beach.”
The artists said they’re hoping their latest creation will last one week, depending on the elements.
With a report from CTV Toronto’s Scott Lightfoot
