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Signage

Three images of faded painted text on side of heritage brick buildings.

Hunting for Toronto’s Ghost Signs

Kurt Kraler takes us through some of Toronto’s most conspicuous ghost signs

by Kurt Kraler , October 31, 2025

Ghost signs are the faded remains of painted advertisements often found on the fronts and sides of brick buildings from the late 19th to early 20th Centuries. If you look closely, you’ll likely see traces of images and text, offering clues of a bygone era. The paint used was a toxic mix of boiled oil,...