William James StewartCBE (February 13, 1889 – September 28, 1969) was a Canadian politician. He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada. Stewart also owned and operated the Bates and Dodds Funeral Home on Queen Street West in Toronto.[1]
Early life
He was born in Toronto and first worked as an office boy at a bicycle shop. His education largely consisted of evening courses taken at Shaw Business School in Toronto.[1]
Stewart was alderman for Ward 5 in Toronto from 1924 to 1931. He defeated former mayor Sam McBride, who was attempting to return to office, in the 1931 mayoral election and served as Mayor of Toronto from 1931 until 1934. Stewart was the first mayor to use regular radio broadcasts to keep Toronto citizens informed. He also pushed for the restoration of Fort York, which was re-opened in 1934. He entered provincial politics in 1936 when he ran for the leadership of the Ontario Conservative Party. He came in third place[1] behind Earl Rowe and George Drew.[citation needed] He was elected in a by-election on October 5, 1938, as Conservative Member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for Parkdale in Toronto's west end.[2]
Stewart also owned and operated the Bates And Dodds Funeral Home at 931 Queen Street West at Strachan Avenue
Stewart became a backbencher and went on to serve on various committees, serving as Chairman of the Select Committee on Reform Institutions from 1953 to 1955.[2] Stewart served until 1948 when he lost to CCF candidate Lloyd Fell. He regained his seat in the 1951 provincial election.[1] He remained a member of the legislature until the 1959 election when his Parkdale seat was won by a Liberal and he left politics.[2]
Life after politics
He served briefly as a member of the Ontario Parole Board in 1960 but found the position too strenuous. Stewart was named chairman of the Toronto Historical Board the following year. He died in Toronto eight years later.[1]
