Bessarion station

Bessarion is a station on Line 4 Sheppard of the Toronto subway. Opened in 2002, it was consistently ranked the least-used station on the heavy-rail portion of the subway system (serving an average of 2,500 passengers per weekday between 2008 and 2018), until being displaced by Downsview Park station in 2018. However, by 2022, ridership at Downsview Park had increased to 8,845 riders per weekday versus 4,269 for Bessarion, again making this station the least used.

History
Due to numerous budget overruns that occurred during the construction of the Sheppard line, the TTC contemplated abandoning the plan to construct Bessarion station to save money. However, a decision was ultimately reached in October 1998 to proceed with building the station. This decision was influenced by the potential for redevelopment in the surrounding area. Councillor David Shiner played a key role in advocating for the station, highlighting its importance as a selling factor for proposed housing units.

During the excavation of the site, it was discovered that the soil had been contaminated with hydrocarbons, believed to be from the two filling stations that had previously occupied the area. As a precautionary measure, the soil was removed and decontaminated during the construction of the station. In the mid-2000s, Line 4 was dubbed a "white elephant" due to its low ridership levels. TTC officials joked that "keeping ticket sellers awake is the biggest challenge amid the boredom that is Bessarion station".

In 2007, developer Concord Adex began construction on Concord Park Place, an 45 acre condominium and townhouse development, next to Bessarion. Upon completion, the development will include 20 residential towers, 2 schools, a combined community centre and library, and a new public park. Initially, the project was criticized for being located too far from the station, but the developer asserted that the community centre would increase Bessarion's ridership. The Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Community Recreation Centre, located to the south of the station, opened in July 2023. Other residential developments in the vicinity of the station have also been proposed.

Between 2008 and 2018, ridership at Bessarion increased by 3 percent, in stark contrast to the 14 percent surge in ridership along all of Line 4. The station had roughly half the amount of passengers at Don Mills, the second-busiest station on the line.

Station description
Like all stations on the Sheppard line, Bessarion is fully accessible and has been since it opened. The main entrance on the south side of Sheppard Avenue is fully accessible, with elevator, escalator, and stair access to the concourse level, where another elevator connects to the subway platform level. The north entrance provides direct access to the concourse level only with stairs.

The subway continues underground in a bored tunnel in both directions; east into and west to.

Architecture and art
The station's interior is generally outfitted in tiles of cream and deep red. The public art in the station, titled Passing by Toronto artist Sylvie Belanger, is a frieze of 800 photographs, representing the users of the station. Images of feet appear on the concourse level, heads appear on the platform, and hands appear along the stairs leading to both of the station's entrance pavilions.

Surface connections
There are no off-street bus platforms at this station. Connecting service is available at the bus stops on Sheppard Avenue with a valid transfer.

TTC routes serving the station include:

Nearby landmarks
Nearby landmarks include the Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Park, the Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Community Recreation Centre and Library (part of the Concord Park Place development), Bessarion Parkette, a Canadian Tire, and Mountain Equipment Co-op North York.