Tuesday, April 7, 2026
ADVT 
Interesting

Tom Hanks used as physical distance marker

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 17 Jul, 2020 10:09 PM
  • Tom Hanks used as physical distance marker

It could be "A Beautiful Day In The Neighbourhood" if you come across a life-sized decal of Tom Hanks in downtown Toronto.

Images of the Oscar-winning actor have been laid on the ground outside of two government-run liquor stores in the city's downtown, using his six-foot frame to help customers maintain their physical distance in line.

The decals show a bespectacled Hanks in a suit above the caption "'Hanks for keeping your distance."

The non-profit initiative was developed by Public Inc., a Toronto-based marketing agency, with the aim of injecting some fun into physical distancing.

"We were a bit concerned that people were going to let down their guard, that they weren't going to be as vigilant about mask-wearing and physically distancing," said Phillip Haid, the co-founder and CEO of Public Inc., on Friday. "That's what led us to ask, 'What would it take to remind people?'"

Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson were diagnosed with COVID-19 in March, and both have since recovered from the illness.

"The idea was born with Tom Hanks because he was the first celebrity to get COVID-19 with his wife — and he happens to be six-feet tall," said Haid.

Haid also pointed out that Hanks has been outspoken in telling people to wear masks to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus since recovering from the disease.

Although the decals are only outside two LCBO locations so far, the campaign will expand to more locations of the provincial government's liquor store chain and to some coffee shops, Haid said. He said the company came up with the project for "the public good."

Haid added that it won't just be in Toronto but at some point may be expanded to New York City, where his company has another office.

It's not clear whether Hanks himself is aware of the campaign.

Public Inc., purchased the rights to the photo, Haid said, and he hopes it will catch the actor's attention.

A message left with Hanks's publicist by The Canadian Press on Friday was not immediately returned.

MORE Interesting ARTICLES

12 School Children Killed In UP Accident, PM, President Mourn Deaths

12 School Children Killed In UP Accident, PM, President Mourn Deaths
At least 12 children were killed on Thursday when a school bus they were travelling in collided with a sand-laden truck in Uttar Pradeshs Etah district amid dense fog, police said.

12 School Children Killed In UP Accident, PM, President Mourn Deaths

Woman Who Sought Kidney On Craigslist Gets It From Mother

Woman Who Sought Kidney On Craigslist Gets It From Mother
BARRINGTON, N.J. — A New Jersey woman who found a kidney donor on Craigslist in 2015 but later was told the organ transplant couldn't happen because of complications has now received a kidney.

Woman Who Sought Kidney On Craigslist Gets It From Mother

Photomontages From Holocaust Memorial Selfies Go Viral

Photomontages From Holocaust Memorial Selfies Go Viral
The creator, Shahak Shapira, told The Associated Press he produced the "Yolocaust" website after seeing thousands of selfies and other photographs of young, smiling people posing on the memorial to Europe's 6 million murdered Jews on social media.

Photomontages From Holocaust Memorial Selfies Go Viral

Indian American DJ Ravi Jakhotia To Perform At Trump's Inauguration

Indian American DJ Ravi Jakhotia To Perform At Trump's Inauguration
Trump will be officially sworn into office as the 45th President of the US on January 20.

Indian American DJ Ravi Jakhotia To Perform At Trump's Inauguration

For Driverless Cars, A Moral Dilemma: Who Lives Or Dies?

For Driverless Cars, A Moral Dilemma: Who Lives Or Dies?
Imagine you're behind the wheel when your brakes fail. As you speed toward a crowded crosswalk, you're confronted with an impossible choice: veer right and mow down a large group of elderly people, or veer left into a woman pushing a stroller.

For Driverless Cars, A Moral Dilemma: Who Lives Or Dies?

Community Currencies Important In Demonetisation: Innovator Geeta Mehta

Community Currencies Important In Demonetisation: Innovator Geeta Mehta
Leveraging the power of social capital, community currencies such as Social Capital Credits (SoCCs) have a "very important" role in situations such as demonetisation, says its developer, New York-based Indian American Geeta Mehta.

Community Currencies Important In Demonetisation: Innovator Geeta Mehta