- At the east end of Longboat Street
- Photo: © Luke Tyszkiewicz
To the west is a clear view of the CN tower; to the east is a giant billboard. The tower is one of Toronto’s greatest prides. The preponderance of advertising signs, however, has become a source of civic shame. Despite a bylaw in Toronto that restricts the size, location, and illumination of billboards, advertising companies can apply for variances to erect signs that are larger than the bylaw allows. Unfortunately, due to lack of enforcement, many signs have no permits at all. Local resident Dennis Glasgow has had several illegal billboards in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood removed after discovering that they didn’t have proper permits. The Toronto Public Space Committee also runs a campaign called the Billboard Battalion, which helps citizens understand this issue and encourages them to write their local councillor and speak at community council meetings whenever a billboard company applies to for an exemption from the bylaw. To view a list of billboards in your neighbourhood that do no comply with the law, check out the informative website illegalsigns.ca.
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