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Tillsonburg, located 50 km southeast of London in Ontario’s Oxford County, has a history rooted in logging and wood industries. In the early 20th century, it became a key player in Ontario’s Tobacco belt due to a surge in tobacco cultivation. The Ontario Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers’ Marketing Board was established there in 1959, replacing direct farmer-buyer transactions with major auction warehouses. As the tobacco industry declined, local farmers shifted to growing potatoes and vegetables, diversifying agriculture. Tobacco is still grown but is no longer the dominant crop. The town’s industrial landscape has diversified, hosting numerous manufacturing plants, especially in the automotive parts sector.

The original symbol for the mall was created by Burton Kramer and features a monogram-like TTC composition, constructed of offset intersecting lines. Characteristic of Kramer’s signature style, the design creates an optical illusion, subtly alluding to elements beyond the letters themselves. These include architectural dimensions reminiscent of buildings (and even streets), rows of crops tied to the town’s economy, and even hinting to the town’s past — as stacks of logs and timber. The duration of the logo’s existence remains uncertain, but it seems evident that the mall has undergone many transformations in its visual identity since its inception.

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