ABOUT THE DESIGN

What makes the GTA community?

Revolving around the theme of celebrating and highlighting the GTA community, this illustration design serves to answer the question: "What makes it the 'Greater' Toronto Area?" What makes cities like Mississauga or Brampton so intimately connected to Toronto, that they are considered the 'Greater' Toronto Area cities?

Thousands of people in the GTA commute to and from Toronto. This is a shared experience amongst GTA-ers, and a personal experience especially as someone who went to school there and currentlyworks at an office there, despite being from Mississauga.

Therefore, it's the commute. The commute is what makes Toronto so deeply connected with surrounding cities, that they have been dubbed the "Greater" Toronto regions.

Connectedness

The shared experience of commuting brings a sense of belonging; togetherness. We all share the experience of having to travel to and from the GTA cities. When there's yet another TTC delay, we share the same collective sigh of exasperation. We share the familiarity of that GO train announcer making a joke at 7am. We make awkward eye contact with that person we always end up seeing every evening going back home.

With this design, I wanted to showcase how the mundane, every day experience of commute can actually be a symbol for the connectedness we share as part of the GTA community.

Diversity

It is during the commute, especially to and from the GTA cities, that you really see and appreciate the diversity of Canadians. This design aims to celebrate our diversity with the every day people you may spot during your commute.