toronto sept. 19 queen

Everything Toronto is doing 96 times or for 96 seconds to honour Queen Elizabeth II

Monday's National Day of Mourning, though not a holiday, will have a number of special rituals to honour the final burial of Queen Elizabeth II.

Since the Queen died at 96 years old, the city will being doing some strange traditions for 96 seconds, or even 96 times.

On Sept. 19, city officials and staff will observe 96 seconds of silence at City Hall's Peace Garden. This garden and monument was actually dedicated by The Queen back in 1984.

The bell at Old City Hall tower will toll for an memorable 96 times, one per minute starting at 1 p.m. That means you will hear a bell every minute for a bit more than an hour and a half.

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) has also joined in the mourning, and will pause all vehicles at 1 p.m. for 96 seconds, which actually isn't a terribly bad delay considering the TTC's reputation.

"The 'stop and stay' is part of the City of Toronto's coordinated tribute to Her Majesty on the day of her funeral, also a National Day of Mourning in Canada," read a release from the TTC.

Subway trains will be held at station platforms while bus and streetcar drivers will park their vehicles for the 96 seconds.

And finally, city ferries will also stop running for 96 seconds and blow their horns at the beginning and ending of the mourning period.

The Diocese of Toronto also confirmed the bells at Anglican churches will toll 96 times.

The Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square will be dimmed and the Princes' Gates at Exhibition Place will be illuminated in blue until Sept. 19.

Flags across all city-run facilities will be flown at half-mast until Sept. 19 and will continue to be lowered to honour fallen Toronto Police officer Cst. Andrew Hong.

Lead photo by

The Royal Family


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

People spotting Toronto's fancy Roombas for cutting grass in parks are enthralled

Ontario just got hit with an earthquake and officials blame this mine

TTC workers are gearing up to go on strike and here's what you need to know

Here are the highest and lowest paying gig jobs at the City of Toronto right now

Yonge-Dundas Square renaming to Sankofa Square is about to become more official

A 7-kilometre stretch of the TTC subway will be closed for this entire weekend

Years of construction on major Toronto street set to extend even longer with new project

Toronto just got a beautiful new streetscape but oops it's already being torn up