Etiquette Cards Remind Torontonians of Common Courtesy

Toronto resident Christopher Rouleau hopes to revive common courtesy by handing out cards with notes to people as they go about their daily lives in the city.
Etiquette Cards Remind Torontonians of Common Courtesy
12/21/2011
Updated:
10/1/2015
<a><img class="size-medium wp-image-1794833" title="Toronto Etiquette Project" src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/Etiquetter.jpg" alt="Toronto Etiquette Project" width="618" height="462"/></a>
Toronto Etiquette Project

Toronto resident Christopher Rouleau hopes to revive common courtesy by handing out cards with notes to people as they go about their daily lives in the city.

Rouleau, 29, launched the Toronto Etiquette Project (TEP) at the beginning of December as a way to remind bustling Torontonians to be more courteous to each other, and to bring out their innate, kind nature, something people often tend to forget about.

In being handed one of the colourful, wallet-sized cards, a pedestrian might be reminded not to Tweet while crossing the street, or advised not to floss while riding the subway. Transit riders might be made mindful not to play loud music, and cellphone users could be reminded not to share their private conversations aloud.

There are also cards to remind people of more traditional manners, such as covering one’s mouth when coughing or sneezing.

In all, there are five different reminders-of-what-not-to-do cards, each in a different colour. They can be downloaded from Rouleau’s website and handed out by anyone.

While passing out a “bad manners” card might seem like a bold thing to do, Rouleau says it’s not meant to offend anybody. “Sometimes having it brought up is just a good, healthy reminder.”

Of course, he advises that one should exercise common sense and use good judgment when handing out the cards. “If there’s a potential for danger, don’t risk yourself.”

Rouleau, who says the cards were designed specifically with Toronto in mind, took his inspiration from the Toronto Transit Commission lettering.

“That TTC font was used primarily in the ‘50s and ’60s, and in a way it almost harkens to a time when people were more polite, and when there weren’t cellphones, and when we actually talked to each other. It was kind of a different world back then. I hoped this would tap into that retro spirit.”

Although the Toronto Etiquette Project was launched just three weeks ago, it has already attracted national interest. Rouleau says he has project requests lined up from coast to coast.