List of mayors of Toronto

Below is a list of Mayors of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Toronto's first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie was appointed in 1834 after his Reform coalition won the new City of Toronto's first election, and Mackenzie was chosen by the Reformers. Toronto's 65th and current mayor, John Tory, took office December 1, 2014.

History

From 1834 to 1857, and again from 1867 to 1873, Toronto mayors were not elected directly by the public. Instead, after each annual election of aldermen and councilmen, the assembled council would elect one of their members as mayor. For all other years, mayors were directly elected by popular vote, except in rare cases where a mayor was appointed by council to fill an unexpired term of office. Prior to 1834, Toronto municipal leadership was governed by the Chairman of the General Quarter Session of Peace of the Home District Council.

Through 1955 the term of office for the mayor and council was one year; it then varied between two and three years until a four-year term was adopted starting in 2006. (See List of Toronto municipal elections.)

The "City of Toronto" has changed substantially over the years: the city annexed or amalgamated with neighbouring communities or areas 49 times from in 1883 to 1967.[1] The most sweeping change was in 1998, when the six municipalities comprising Metropolitan TorontoEast York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, York, and the former city of Toronto–and its regional government were amalgamated into a single City of Toronto (colloquially dubbed the "megacity") by an act of the provincial government. The newly created position of mayor for the resulting single-tier mega-city replaced all of the mayors of the former Metro municipalities. It also abolished the office of the Metro Chairman, which had formerly been the most senior political figure in the Metro government before amalgamation.

According to Victor Loring Russell, author of Mayors of Toronto Volume I, 14 out of the first 29 mayors were lawyers. According to Mark Maloney who is writing The History of the Mayors of Toronto, 58 of Toronto's 64 mayors (up to Ford) have been Protestant, white, English-speaking, Anglo-Saxon, property-owning males.[2] There have been two women (Hall and Rowlands) and three Jewish mayors (Phillips, Givens[3] and Lastman).

Art Eggleton is the longest-serving mayor of Toronto, serving from 1980 until 1991. Eggleton later served in federal politics from 1993 until 2004, and was appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2005. David Breakenridge Read held the post of mayor of Toronto for the shortest period; Read was mayor for only fifty days in 1858.

No Toronto mayor has been removed from office. Toronto's 64th mayor, Rob Ford, lost a conflict of interest trial in 2012, and was ordered to vacate his position; but the ruling was stayed pending an appeal, which Ford won to remain in office.[4][5] Due to his substance abuse admission and controversy in 2013, Council stripped him of many powers on November 15, transferring them to the deputy mayor.[6] From May until July, 2014, Ford took a leave of absence from the mayoralty to enter drug rehabilitation.

Original City of Toronto era

Appointed by City Council
No. Mayor Took office Left office Prior political experience
1William Lyon Mackenzie1834 (March 27)1835Member of the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly for York
(1829–1834, expelled several times)
Alderman for St. David's Ward (1834)
2Robert Baldwin Sullivan1835 (January 15)1836Alderman for St. David's Ward (1835)
3Thomas David Morrison18361837Member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for 3rd York (1835–1840)
Alderman for St Andrew's Ward (1834–1836)
4George Gurnett18371838Alderman for St. George's Ward (1834–1850)
5John Powell18381841Alderman for St. Andrew's Ward (1837–1841)
6George Monro18411842Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1834–1835, 1837–1845)
7Henry Sherwood18421845Member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for Brockville (1836–1840)
Alderman for St. David's Ward (1842–1849)
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Toronto (1843–1851)
8William H. Boulton18451848Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1838–1843, 1844–1852)
Mayor (1845–1847)
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Toronto (1844–1853)
George Gurnett
(2nd incumbency)
18481851Alderman for St. George's Ward (1834–1850)
9John George Bowes18511854Alderman for St. James's Ward (1850–1853)
10Joshua George Beard18541855Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1834–1854)
Toronto School Board of Trustees (1850–1864)
11George William Allan18551856Alderman for St. David Ward (1849–1855)
12John Beverley Robinson18561857Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1851, 1853–54, 1856–57)
13John Hutchison18571858 (resigned)Alderman for St. James Ward (1852–1853, 1856–1857)
William H. Boulton
(2nd incumbency)
18581858 (resigned November 8)Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1838–1843, 1844–1852)
Mayor (1845–1847)
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for Toronto (1844–1853)
Alderman for St. Andrew's Ward (1858)
14David Breakenridge Read1858 (November 11)1858 (December 31)Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1858)
Elected directly by the public
No. Mayor Took office Left office Prior political experience
15(Sir) Adam Wilson18591861Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1855)
John George Bowes
(2nd incumbency)
18611864Alderman for St. James's Ward (1850)

Alderman for St. James's Ward and Mayor (1851–1853)
Alderman for St. David's Ward (1856)

16Francis Henry Medcalf18641867Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1860)
Alderman for St. David's Ward (1863)
Appointed by City Council
No. Mayor Took office Left office Prior political experience
17James Edward Smith18671869Alderman for St. John's Ward (1857–1867)
18Samuel Bickerton Harman18691871Alderman for St Andrew's Ward (1866–1868, 1871–1872)
19Joseph Sheard18711873Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1851–1871)
20Alexander Manning18731874Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1856–1858, 1867–1873)
Elected directly by the public
No. Mayor Took office Left office Prior political experience
Francis Henry Medcalf
(2nd incumbency)
18741875Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1860)
Alderman for St. David's Ward (1863, 1867–1868)
Mayor (1864–1867)
21Angus Morrison18761878Alderman for St. James (1853–1854)
Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada for North Simcoe (1854–1863) and Niagara (1864–1867)
Member of Parliament (1867–1874)
22James Beaty18791880Alderman for St. James's Ward (1877)
23William Barclay McMurrich18811882Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1879–1880)
24Arthur Radcliffe Boswell18831884Alderman for St. George's Ward (1877–1879, 1882)
Alexander Manning
(2nd incumbency)
18851885Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1856–1858, 1867–1873)
Mayor (1873)
25William Holmes Howland18861887President of the Toronto Board of Trade (1874–75)
President of the Dominion Board of Trade (1874)
President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Ontario (1877–78)
26Edward Frederick Clarke18881891Member of the Legislative Assembly for Toronto (1886–1894)
27Robert John Fleming18921893Alderman for St. David's Ward (1886–1890)
28Warring Kennedy18941895Alderman for St. John's Ward (1871)
Robert John Fleming
(2nd incumbency)
18961897 (resigned August 5)Alderman for St. David's Ward (1886–1890)
Mayor (1892)
29John Shaw1897 (August 6)1899Alderman for St. Paul's Ward (1883–1895)
Alderman for Ward 3 (1897)[7]
30Ernest A. Macdonald19001900Alderman for St. Matthew's Ward (1886–1887, 1889–1890)
Alderman for Ward 1 (1896)[8]
31Oliver Aiken Howland19011902Member of the Legislative Assembly for Toronto South (1894–1898)
32Thomas Urquhart19031905Alderman for Ward 4 (1900–1902)
33Emerson Coatsworth19061907Member of Parliament for Toronto East (1891–1896)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1904–1905)[9]
34Joseph Oliver19081909Toronto School Board Trustee (1885)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1895, 1901–1903 (also Board of Control) and 1906)[10][11][12]
35George Reginald Geary19101912 (resigned October 21)Toronto School Board Trustee (1904)
Alderman for Ward 3 (1905–1908)
Toronto Board of Control (1909)
36Horatio C. Hocken19121914Toronto Board of Control (1907–1909, 1911–1912)
37Thomas Langton Church19151921Toronto School Board Trustee (1899–1904)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1905–1909)
Toronto Board of Control (1910–1914)
38Charles A. Maguire19221923Alderman for Ward 3 (1909–1912, 1914–1917)
Toronto Board of Control (1918–1921)
39W. W. Hiltz19241924Toronto School Board Trustee (1911–1913)

Alderman for Ward 1 (1914–1920)
Toronto Board of Control (1921–1923)

40Thomas Foster19251927Alderman for St. David Ward (1891–1892, 1894)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1900–1909)
Toronto Board of Control (1910, 1912–1913, 1915–1917, 1922–1924)
41Sam McBride19281929Alderman for Ward 3 (1905–1916)
Toronto Board of Control (1917–1918, 1926, 1932–1935)
Alderman for Ward 4 (1924–1925)
Toronto Board of Control (1917–1918, 1926)
42Bert Sterling Wemp19301930Toronto School Board Trustee (1921–1922)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1924–1925)
Toronto Board of Control (1927–1929)
43William James Stewart19311934Alderman for Ward 5 (1924–1930)
44James Simpson19351935Toronto School Board Trustee (1905–1910)
Toronto Board of Control (1914, 1930–1934)
Sam McBride
(2nd incumbency)
19361936 (died November 10)Alderman for Ward 3 (1905–1916)
Toronto Board of Control (1917–1918, 1926, 1932–1935)
Alderman for Ward 4 (1924–1925)
Mayor (1928–1929)
45William D. Robbins1936 (November 18)1937Alderman for Ward 1 (1913–1917, 1923)
Toronto Board of Control (1918–1919, 1925, 1928, 1930–1936)
46Ralph C. Day19381940Alderman for Ward 1 (1931–1934)
Toronto Board of Control (1935—1937)
47Frederick J. Conboy19411944Alderman for Ward 6 (1935–1936)
Toronto Board of Control (1937–1940)
48Robert Hood Saunders19451948 (resigned February 23)Alderman for Ward 4 (1935–1936, 1940)
Toronto Board of Control (1941–1944)
49Hiram E. McCallum19481951Alderman for Ward 8 (1941–1943)
Toronto Board of Control (1945–1948)

The Metro Toronto era (1953–97)

From 1953, Toronto was part of a federated municipality known as Metropolitan Toronto. This regional entity had the same boundaries as present-day Toronto, but consisted of the City of Toronto and 12 other municipalities, each with its own mayor and council. From 1953 to 1997, the most senior political figure in the Metropolitan Toronto government was the Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto (for a list of Metro Chairmen, see Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto). In 1967, (during the incumbency of William Dennison), an internal amalgamation eliminated the seven smallest municipalities in Metropolitan Toronto. Of these, the villages of Forest Hill and Swansea were amalgamated into the City of Toronto.

No. Mayor Took office Left office Prior political experience Deputy Mayor
50Allan LamportJanuary 1, 1952June 28, 1954Alderman for Ward 2 (1937)
MPP for St. David (1937–1943)
Ward 3 (1946–1948)
Toronto Board of Control (1950–1952)
N/A
51Leslie Howard SaundersJune 28, 1954December 31, 1954Alderman in North Bay (1918–1924)
Toronto School Trustee (1936–1938)
Alderman for Ward 1 (Riverdale) (1942–1945)
Toronto Board of Control (1949–1954)
Nathan Phillips
52Nathan PhillipsJanuary 1, 1955December 31, 1962Alderman for Ward 4 (St. Andrew) (1926–1955)N/A
53Donald Dean SummervilleJanuary 1, 1963November 19, 1963 (died in office) [13]Alderman for Ward 8 (The Beaches) (1955–1958)
Toronto Board of Control (1958–1961)
Philip Givens
54Philip GivensNovember 19, 1963 (acting mayor, appointed permanently on November 25)[3][14]December 31, 1966Alderman for Ward 5 (Trinity–Bellwoods) (1951—1960)
Toronto Board of Control (1960—1963)
President of City Council (1963)
Allan Lamport [3]
55William DennisonJanuary 1, 1967December 31, 1972Toronto School Trustee (1938–1941)
Alderman for Ward 2 (Rosedale and Cabbagetown) (1941–1943)
MPP for St. David (1943—1945, 1948—1951)
Toronto Board of Control (1958–1963)
N/A
56David CrombieJanuary 1, 1973August 31, 1978Alderman for Ward 11 (North Toronto) (1969–1972)Fred Beavis
57Fred BeavisSeptember 1, 1978November 30, 1978Alderman for Ward 1 (Riverdale) (1956–1978)Anne Johnston
58John SewellDecember 1, 1978November 30, 1980Alderman for Ward 7 (Regent Park and Riverdale) (1969–1978)Art Eggleton
59Art EggletonDecember 1, 1980November 30, 1991Alderman for Ward 4 (Trinity Bellwoods and Little Italy) (1969–1980)N/A
60June RowlandsDecember 1, 1991November 30, 1994Alderman/City Councillor for Ward 10 (North Toronto and Rosedale) (1976–1988)
Chairman of the Toronto Police Commission (1988–1991)
61Barbara HallDecember 1, 1994December 31, 1997City Councillor for Ward 7 (Regent Park and Riverdale) (1985–1994)N/A

Post-amalgamation era

As of 1998, Metropolitan Toronto and all its constituent municipalities were amalgamated into a single City of Toronto. Under the City of Toronto Act, 2006,[15] the Mayor is the head of council[16] and the chief executive officer[17] of the City.

The deputy mayor is appointed by the mayor from among the elected members of the City Council.[18] The deputy mayor acts in place of the mayor whenever the incumbent is unable to be present to perform his normal functions and duties, assists the mayor, and serves as vice-chair of the city council's executive committee.

On November 18, 2013, city council removed most powers from the office of mayor for the term of the current Council, including chairing the executive committee. These powers were given to the office of the deputy mayor, held by Norm Kelly at the time of the motion.[6] The action occurred after Mayor Rob Ford admitted to drug abuse. On May 1, 2014, Ford started a leave of absence for drug rehabilitation. Kelly took over the remainder of the Mayoral duties and powers at that time.[19] When Rob Ford returned on July 1, he once again returned to having the duties he had immediately prior to the leave.

No. Mayor Terms of office Took office Left office Prior political experience Deputy Mayor
62Mel Lastman2January 1, 1998November 30, 2003North York Board of Control (1970–1973)
Mayor of North York (1973–1997)
Metro Councillor (1970–1997)[20]
Case Ootes
63David Miller2December 1, 2003November 30, 2010Metro Councillor for High Park (1994–1997),
City Councillor for Ward 19 (High Park) (1997–2000),
City Councillor for Ward 13 (High Park) (2000–2003)
Joe Pantalone
64Rob Ford1December 1, 2010November 30, 2014City Councillor for Ward 2 (Etobicoke North) (2000–2010)
Doug Holyday (2010–2013)

Norm Kelly (2013–2014)

65John Tory2December 1, 2014IncumbentLeader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (2004–2009)
MPP for Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey (2005–2007)

Living former mayors

As of September 2020, there are six living former mayors of Toronto:

Rob Ford and June Rowlands are the most recent Mayors to have died, and Ford was the first of the post-amalgamation Mayors of Toronto to die.

Post-Mayoral honours

A few former mayors have been honoured with places, things or buildings named in their honour. Unless otherwise stated the following are all located in Toronto:

See also

References

  1. Derek Hayes. Historical Atlas of Toronto. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-55365-290-8.
  2. Mark Maloney (January 3, 2010). "Toronto's mayors: Scoundrels, rogues and socialist". Toronto Star.
  3. Globe Staff (November 26, 1963). "Givens Mayor by Unanimous Vote". The Globe & Mail. Toronto. p. 1.
  4. "Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to appeal his ouster". CTV News. November 26, 2012. Retrieved February 16, 2013.
  5. Magder v. Ford, 2013 ONSC 263, 113 OR (3d) 241 (25 January 2013), Superior Court of Justice (Ontario, Canada)
  6. Mendleson, Rachel; Peter Edwards (November 18, 2013). "Rob Ford stripped of power as mayor by Toronto council". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on November 19, 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  7. "Mayor Fleming's Fourth Triumph", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]05 Jan 1897: 2
  8. "IT IS FLEMING: The People's "Bob" Overwhelms Ald. Shaw A DECISIVE MAJORITY The Council of 1895 Was Decidedly Popular RETIRING ALDERMEN ELECTED F. S. Spence and W. T. R. Preston Gain a Footing Mr. Spence Heads the Poll for a Start--The Aldermen and the Aqueduct Question", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]07 Jan 1896: 6.
  9. "Thomas Urquhart Gets Third Term", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]03 Jan 1905: 1, 8
  10. FLEMING'S JUBILATION: The Mayor Addresses a Large Gathering ENTHUSIASM ON THE STREET The Crowd Rejoices at the Election The Result Regarded as a Triumph for Honest Mothods at the City Hall AN AMAZING VICTORY HIS LAST TERM GRATEFUL TO THE WOMEN WORDS OF CONGRATULATION Full TextHistorical Newspapers, The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]05 Jan 1897: 3
  11. HOWLAND IS MAYOR: HisPluralityOver Spence Fully Four Thousand SHAW NOWHERE The Desertion From His Ranks Was Complete SEVEN NEW ALDERMEN Old Members Slaughtered In the Third. Fifth and Sixth WardsMunicipal Gas Plant Favored The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]08 Jan 1901: 1
  12. "COATSWORTH AND LIQUOR; NESBITT MACHINE WINS: Majorities Against Spence and the Reduction By-laws FIGURES THAT SIGNIFY MUCH Coatsworth's Majorities Greatest in Strongholds of Liquor Men Controller Spence the Only Member of a Civic Board to Fail of Re-election Two Ex-Members and One New Aspirant Elected to the Council Aid. Jones Becomes a Member of the Board of Control No Change in the Board of Education-- Majorities Against the Reduction By-laws Large Controller Spence Attributes His Defeat to Effective Organization Formed For Defeat of Liquor License By-laws-- Coatsworth Calls it Victory of People", The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]02 Jan 1906: 1
  13. Globe Staff (November 20, 1963). "Heart Attack at 48: Stricken Playing Hockey, Mayor Summerville Dead". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. 1.
  14. Star staff (November 20, 1963). "Givens becomes Toronto's acting mayor". The Toronto Daily Star. p. 1.
  15. as enacted by the Stronger City of Toronto for a Stronger Ontario Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 11, Sch. A
  16. City of Toronto Act, 2006, s. 133
  17. City of Toronto Act, 2006, s. 134
  18. CP24 News Staff (August 19, 2013). "Coun. Norm Kelly appointed as Toronto's new deputy mayor". CTV News. Toronto. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  19. "Ford scandal: Mayor takes leave after lewd audio, alleged drug video emerge". 680 News. Toronto, Ontario. May 1, 2014.
  20. Star Staff (December 5, 1972). "Mel Lastman sweeps North York". The Toronto Star. pp. 1, 11. All municipal elected officials that won in the 4 DEC 1972 election took office on 1 JAN 1973.
  21. "Mayor Tory gets his four deputies – Ford lone vote against the move". Toronto Sun. December 11, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  22. "John Tory's plan 'to bring the city together': Four deputy mayors — one from each region of Toronto". National Post. December 1, 2014. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
  23. "Leslieville and Riverside Real Estate : How did Boulton Avenue, De Grassi Street and Morse Street get their names?". Leslieville.com. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  24. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Bibliography

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