Traffic Cabinets

This design was inspired by everything that makes Brantford special, from its natural surroundings to its rich history. Since Caleigh moved here in 2023, she has enjoyed walking the trails along the Grand River and exploring the beautiful areas throughout Brant County. While learning about the city’s past, especially during the 150th anniversary of the first long-distance telephone call, she discovered that the daffodil is Brantford’s official flower because of the telephone. Winter in Brantford brings plenty of opportunities to stay active, with classic Canadian activities like ice skating and hockey. As someone who grew up skating, it’s especially meaningful to be in the city where Wayne Gretzky first laced up his skates. Caleigh wanted to include meaningful symbols that reflect the heart of Brantford’s story. These include the Brant’s Crossing Bridge, the daffodil, the telephone, a pair of skates and elements from nature like water and fish to represent the Grand River, trees and leaves to represent the trails, and weather patterns such as clouds, snowflakes, and raindrops that show the changing seasons we experience in Canada. Caleigh's goal with this design is to highlight the beauty, history, and progress of Brantford. She also hopes it encourages people to appreciate everything this city has to offer, and to see that no matter where you come from, even a small city can make a big impact.

Juliana Lachance is a visual artist who calls Brantford home. She loves painting whimsical landscapes, creating aromatherapy perfumes for her business, Wonderlust Botanicals, and playing the bandura, a 60-string folk harp from Ukraine. Her work is inspired by intuition, meditation, nature, and a deep desire to make the world a more beautiful place.

Juliana is driven to paint landscapes that celebrate the beautiful world where animals and birds dwell. These creatures are not burdened by the constructs of society; they live freely in the world and in the moment. The wild reminds her that our world is abundantly filled with magic and wonder, and that she can live her life any way that she chooses. She chooses to live by creating a more beautiful world and returning to the garden.

Based in Brantford, Joelle is a self-taught artist working in graphite, ink, and digital media. Her interest in art, initially developed as a method of combating depression, has grown into a meaningful practice with the purpose of enhancing the environment around her.

Her illustrations are featured on greeting cards as well as in the visual branding of local business Coffer and Hutch through logos, signage, promotional material, and website graphics. Currently commissioned for a second business logo, Joelle is committed to making Brantford look its best, one line at a time. Driven by a genuine passion for the people around her, Joelle strives to create accessible artwork that celebrates what makes Brantford unique. Art isn’t just for galleries; it’s for everyone.

This particular piece aims to highlight, emphasize, and invigorate the sense of interconnectedness that defines our community. The architectural variance is intentionally chosen for its symbolic resonance, the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts represents joy, culture, and collective celebration; City Hall characterizes municipal pride and civic engagement, and residences and business fronts reflect the multifaceted nature of the city both socially and economically. The variance in building types, spaces for living, governance, recreation, and commerce, underscores the idea that our community is not built on a single identity or sector. Rather, it thrives through the diverse contributions of its people and the everyday connections we make by sharing the same streets and spaces.

The collage format of the piece is an illustration of the city’s diversity. Each element is distinct, but inseparable from the greater collective. The hand-drawn, sketch-like style makes this piece approachable and accessible on a personal level, offering itself as a visual love letter to the city.

“Currents of Community”, painted in gouache, showcases Brantford as a vibrant city amidst the natural beauty along the Grand River. Holly wanted to reflect a colourful patchwork of Brantford's homes and buildings in their fascinating contrast of old and new. The river is featured prominently, a witness to the many changes along its shoreline: Indigenous history, settlement, industry, and recreation. Its iconic bridges symbolize the connection of our past to the present and our connections to each other as a community.

Holly Enter is a multidisciplinary visual artist from Ontario, Canada, whose practice includes oils, acrylics, watercolour, and gouache. Inspiration for her work comes from finding beauty in ordinary moments of everyday life.

Alexander Graham Bell, his parents and sister-in-law came to Canada from Scotland and England in August of 1870 and settled on a small farm just outside of Brantford, Ontario. On July 26, 1874 he invented the telephone here. The next summer, he wrote the first copy of his telephone patent plans. And, in August, 1876 he made the world's first successful long-distance telephone call between Brantford and Paris, Ontario. Because all of this happened here, Brantford became known as “The Telephone City”.

Capitol Theatre c. 1973 - Queen Street at Dalhousie

Opened in 1919 as the Temple Theatre and designed by renowned Scottish Architect, Thomas W. Lamb, the building was originally a vaudeville and silent movie house. By 1929, Famous Players owned the theatre and changed its name to Capitol Theatre. The Corporation of the City of Brantford purchased the Capitol in 1986 with a vision to preserve Brantford’s heritage and create a cultural centre for the community. Over several years, the theatre was reborn with an authentically restored auditorium and improved services for guests and performers. During restoration, the theatre was renamed the Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts in tribute to the memory of the Sanderson family, a well-known supporter of the restoration and many other local causes. 

Lorne Bridge c. 1953 - Dalhousie at Brant Ave. 

Constructed in 1924 while Frank Adams was City Engineer working with builder/contractor Port Arthur Construction Company, the Lorne Bridge is a relatively large concrete arch bridge. It has arch spans that are visually distinguished by a lightweight appearance for a bridge of its age and size. The original bridge at this location was pin-connected Whipple through truss bridge of 254 feet in length. The Marquis of Lorne, who was the Governor General of Canada from 1878-1883, attended the opening of the Whipple truss in 1879. This is why the crossing is today called the Lorne Bridge.

College Theatre - Dalhousie Street at Market

The College Theatre building still stands on the north side of Colborne between Clarence and Alfred streets and the marquee is still on the building and used for signage. The Brantford Expositor notes the final preparations for the opening of the College Theatre on Thursday, April 6, 1939. Opening with a seating capacity of 550 people with up-to-date heating and air conditioning, the latest sound equipment, and a 13 foot by 18 foot silver screen, it delighted audience with its premiere film “Delinquent Parents”.

Fitzjohn Coach of Canada announced coming to Brantford to build a bus company near the Brantford Airport in 1949.  The first bus rolled off the line April 29, 1950 with Mayor Howard E. Winter viewing the bus before it was sent to Toronto.  The City of Brantford purchased five buses from the company for its transit system in 1952.by 1958, Bluebird acquired the company for its bus manufacturing needs.

Mohawk poetess E. Pauline Johnson was one of North America’s most notable entertainers in the late 19^th century. A poet, author and performer, her father was a hereditary Mohawk chief of mixed ancestry and her mother was an English immigrant. She is listed as a Person of National Historic Significance and her childhood home is a National Historic Site and museum.

A group of people taking Brantford Street Railway company around 1906. Businesses in the photo are W.F. Cockshutt Grocers, J.J. Sutherland, booksellers, stationers and cut glass importers. This is on the south side of Colborne Street with the streetcar turning onto Market street.  Residents had service in West Brant, along Brant Ave, and an East Ward loop, along with the popular Colborne Street line taking residents for picnics at Mohawk Park

Brantford’s Canadian National Railways Station c. 1905 - Market and Grey Street

Brantford’s Canadian National Railways Station is a picturesque, one-story, brick railway station, built in 1905. The placement of Brantford on the Grand Trunk Railway Company (GTR) main line, and the construction of the Brantford station in 1905, reflect a short period of prosperity in the history of the GTR. During this time, the railway played a key role in Brantford’s economic development, providing access to markets, materials and labour.

Central Fire Station, c. 1930 - Lynden and the Fire Hall

Carnegie Library, c. 1913

In 1902, the cornerstone was late for the new public library after a gift of $35,000 by Andrew Carnegie. By 1913, the library quarters were rendered inadequate by Judge Hardy and appealed to Carnegie for an additional $13,000. The addition included three large reading rooms – one for men and one for ladies on the main floor, with an additional men’s room where smoking was permitted in the basement. Mr. Henwood, the head librarian, introduced the Dewey Decimal system to the library.