Signs That Define Toronto

The Signs That Define Toronto

Photo of a dark blue sky with a building in the bottom left that has a red neon sign that says "FILMORES HOTEL". In the top right are the words "THE SIGNS THAT DEFINE TORONTO" "EDITED BY KURT KRALER, MATTHEW BLACKETT, PHILIP EVANS" — Cover of “The Signs That Define Toronto” co-edited by Kurt Kraler, Matthew Blackett, and Philip Evans, 2023 Heritage Toronto Book Award nominee. Cover designed by Sam Javanrouhe.

Cover of “The Signs That Define Toronto” co-edited by Kurt Kraler, Matthew Blackett, and Philip Evans, 2023 Heritage Toronto Book Award nominee. Cover designed by Sam Javanrouhe.

Co-editors: Kurt Kraler, Matthew Blackett, and Philip Evans

Publisher: Spacing Media

The Signs That Define Toronto documents the history and culture of the city through its signs. Cities are shaped by their signage, from the iconic signs that dominate the skyline to the more modest signs of small businesses. With the removal of two iconic Toronto signs, the Sam the Record Man and Honest Ed’s signs, a conversation was sparked about heritage preservation and how signage contributes to the visual identity of the city. In both instances, what became apparent was the significance of the signs themselves and how they often define otherwise unremarkable building facades.

Looking at the patchwork of signs in the city, we see the many languages, flags, colours, and symbols that broadcast to various demographics and customers, contributing to the collective visual identity of Toronto. Signs offer a glimpse of the occupants who live and work within the buildings they adorn and are an accessible medium in which a broad range of commercial tenants reach a broader public. This accessibility is due to innovations in illumination technology that keep the costs of making signs relatively affordable. As a result, signs produce a more accurate record of the life of the city than buildings and architectural styles ever could.

About the Editors:

Kurt Kraler is a registered Architect (OAA) and project manager at ERA Architects. He completed his Master of Architecture (MArch) degree at the University of Waterloo where his thesis work was recognized with the AIA Henry Adams Medal for academic excellence.

Matthew Blackett is the publisher, creative director and one of the founders of Spacing magazine. He is the author, editor, and photographer of 11 books. He is also a graphic artist, product designer, and deeply-committed advocate for Toronto.

Philip Evans (OAA, MRAIC, CAHP) is a principal at ERA Architects and the founder of Culture of Outports. Over the course of 17 years, he has led a range of conservation, adaptive reuse, design, and feasibility planning projects.