Michael (left) and Brian Doucet (right) continued their family tradition of riding Toronto transit on opening day.
A Toronto family marked a remarkable seven-decade tradition on Sunday by boarding the Finch West LRT on its opening day. Three generations of the Doucet family—a grandfather, father, and young grandson—continued a ritual that began in 1954 with the launch of the Yonge Line, Canada’s first subway.
A Tradition Born with Toronto’s First Subway
Michael Doucet still remembers riding the Yonge Line with his father on its very first day. That moment sparked a family tradition: riding every new Toronto Transit Commission subway or streetcar on opening day.
For Michael, a retired geography professor from Toronto Metropolitan University, the experience is always meaningful.
“It’s always nice to be part of history,” he said. “This new line brings service to a part of Toronto that hasn’t been well connected.”
A New Generation Joins the Finch West LRT Celebration
This year felt different, Michael said. His 7-year-old grandson Hugo joined the ride, officially becoming the third generation to carry the tradition.
“Young people see the city in different ways,” Michael said. “Hugo enjoyed the ride and observed everything around us.”
The moment also echoed old family memories. A photo from 1982 shows Michael and his young son Brian standing by a streetcar near Toronto’s waterfront—just a few years before Brian’s first opening-day ride in 1985 on the Scarborough Rapid Transit line.
Riders Explore Toronto’s New Transit Corridor
Sunday’s launch of the Finch West LRT brought out curious riders from across the city. Brian Doucet, now an associate professor of planning at Waterloo University, said people were eager to explore the new service.
Some inspected the technology, others learned how to navigate the new route, and many simply wanted to witness a historic moment.
“There will always be first-day issues,” Brian said. “But most people were excited to be part of something new.”
Both Michael and Brian hope their tradition endures—and maybe inspires others.
Connecting Toronto Through Transit Experiences
Brian said opening-day rides are more than a ritual—they’re a reminder of how transit links communities.
“Sunday is really about exploring a new part of the city and discovering places now connected to the transit map,” he said. “This whole Finch corridor is now open.”
Despite Toronto’s love-hate relationship with transit, Michael believes the city is lucky. With frequent arrivals and new additions like the Finch West LRT, Toronto remains ahead of many North American cities in transit access.
Encouraging People to Explore Their City
Brian hopes more residents will use the new LRT and other TTC routes to explore Toronto’s neighbourhoods.
“I’d encourage anyone who’s curious about their city: pick an afternoon, ride a line, go somewhere new,” he said.
The Doucets even have a habit of squeezing in “last rides” on retiring vehicles—like the final runs of the Presidents’ Conference Committee streetcars in 1995 and the Canadian Light Rail Vehicles in 2019.
Hugo’s Favourite Ride Yet
For young Hugo, the Finch West LRT opening wasn’t just a tradition—it was an adventure. He called it his “most exciting train ride to date.”
With the newest line now active, the Doucet family tradition continues, linking past, present, and future through Toronto’s ever-growing transit map.
