Cygnals Zine - Issue #8, Summer 1996

Another of Toronto's mysteries & urban legends put on paper!

Y'know that building downtown with the lights on top that go up and down, and the box on top that changes color? You've heard it's some kind of thermometer or something, right? Me too. So I had a little bit of space left (here), and set out to uncover the real story.

'Cept I had a helluva time (by phone) actually finding out what building it actually is!

680News graveyard guy Chris Coyle said he was sure it was the TransAmerica building. 680News anchor Donnalee Williams said it was obvioulsy the Prudential Building. The Canadian Press assured me it was the Sunlife Building. Someone on the internet suggested the Canada Life tower. Q107 said it was the Mutual Building. The Toronto Star told me Canada Life Building. *BINGO*

At 3am, I talked to a nice security lady, last name of Johnston, who told me how to read the beacon:

• When the beacon shows green, skies are clear. When it's red, it's gonna be cloudy. When it's flashing red, we have rain. When it's flashing white, there's snow.
• The running lights -- when they're running up, weather is getting warmer. When down, it's getting cooler. When they're steady, there's no change in the weather.
• During the day, the forecast is for the balance of the day. At night, it's a forecast for the next day.

Ms. Johnston told me they call Pearson Airport every four hours or so to get the latest info from Environment Canada. You can visit the Canada Life building at 330 University Ave. and pick up a little card-calendar that shows the above information. Now you know!