List of mayors of Toronto

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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 he was chosen by the Reformers. The most recent election to the office of mayor was a by-election on June 26, 2023 in which Olivia Chow was elected. Chow formally took office on July 12, 2023.

If a vacancy occurs, the City of Toronto Act explicitly states that the deputy mayor of Toronto assumes certain limited mayoral powers, but remains deputy mayor during a vacancy. They do not become an acting or interim mayor.

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.)

John Tory, who served from 2014 to 2023, resigned as mayor in February 2023; Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie had assumed some mayoral responsibilities as a result until a successor was chosen.

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 Toronto—East 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 three women (Hall, Rowlands, and Chow) 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
1 William Lyon Mackenzie 1834 (March 27) 1835 Member of the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly for York
(1829–1834, expelled several times)
Alderman for St. David's Ward (1834)
2 Robert Baldwin Sullivan 1835 (January 15) 1836 Alderman for St. David's Ward (1835)
3 Thomas David Morrison 1836 1837 Member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada for 3rd York (1835–1840)
Alderman for St Andrew's Ward (1834–1836)
4 George Gurnett 1837 1838 Alderman for St. George's Ward (1834–1850)
5 John Powell 1838 1841 Alderman for St. Andrew's Ward (1837–1841)
6 George Monro 1841 1842 Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1834–1835, 1837–1845)
7 Henry Sherwood 1842 1845 Member 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)
8 William H. Boulton 1845 1848 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)
– George Gurnett
(2nd incumbency)		 1848 1851 Alderman for St. George's Ward (1834–1850)
9 John George Bowes 1851 1854 Alderman for St. James's Ward (1850–1853)
10 Joshua George Beard 1854 1855 Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1834–1854)
Toronto School Board of Trustees (1850–1864)
11 George William Allan 1855 1856 Alderman for St. David Ward (1849–1855)
12 John Beverley Robinson 1856 1857 Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1851, 1853–54, 1856–57)
13 John Hutchison 1857 1858 (resigned) Alderman for St. James Ward (1852–1853, 1856–1857)
– William H. Boulton
(2nd incumbency)		 1858 1858 (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)
14 David Breakenridge Read 1858 (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 Wilson 1859 1861 Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1855)
– John George Bowes
(2nd incumbency)		 1861 1864 Alderman for St. James's Ward (1850)

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

16 Francis Henry Medcalf 1864 1867 Alderman 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
17 James Edward Smith 1867 1869 Alderman for St. John's Ward (1857–1867)
18 Samuel Bickerton Harman 1869 1871 Alderman for St Andrew's Ward (1866–1868, 1871–1872)
19 Joseph Sheard 1871 1873 Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1851–1871)
20 Alexander Manning 1873 1874 Alderman 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)		 1874 1875 Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1860)
Alderman for St. David's Ward (1863, 1867–1868)
Mayor (1864–1867)
21 Angus Morrison 1876 1878 Alderman 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)
22 James Beaty 1879 1880 Alderman for St. James's Ward (1877)
23 William Barclay McMurrich 1881 1882 Alderman for St. Patrick's Ward (1879–1880)
24 Arthur Radcliffe Boswell 1883 1884 Alderman for St. George's Ward (1877–1879, 1882)
– Alexander Manning
(2nd incumbency)		 1885 1885 Alderman for St. Lawrence Ward (1856–1858, 1867–1873)
Mayor (1873)
25 William Holmes Howland 1886 1887 President 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)
26 Edward Frederick Clarke 1888 1891 Member of the Legislative Assembly for Toronto (1886–1894)
27 Robert John Fleming 1892 1893 Alderman for St. David's Ward (1886–1890)
28 Warring Kennedy 1894 1895 Alderman for St. John's Ward (1871)
– Robert John Fleming
(2nd incumbency)		 1896 1897 (resigned August 5) Alderman for St. David's Ward (1886–1890)
Mayor (1892)
29 John Shaw 1897 (August 6) 1899 Alderman for St. Paul's Ward (1883–1895)
Alderman for Ward 3 (1897)[7]
30 Ernest A. Macdonald 1900 1900 Alderman for St. Matthew's Ward (1886–1887, 1889–1890)
Alderman for Ward 1 (1896)[8]
31 Oliver Aiken Howland 1901 1902 Member of the Legislative Assembly for Toronto South (1894–1898)
32 Thomas Urquhart 1903 1905 Alderman for Ward 4 (1900–1902)
33 Emerson Coatsworth 1906 1907 Member of Parliament for Toronto East (1891–1896)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1904–1905)[9]
34 Joseph Oliver 1908 1909 Toronto School Board Trustee (1885)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1895, 1901–1903 (also Board of Control) and 1906)[10][11][12]
35 George Reginald Geary 1910 1912 (resigned October 21) Toronto School Board Trustee (1904)
Alderman for Ward 3 (1905–1908)
Toronto Board of Control (1909)
36 Horatio C. Hocken 1912 1914 Toronto Board of Control (1907–1909, 1911–1912)
37 Thomas Langton Church 1915 1921 Toronto School Board Trustee (1899–1904)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1905–1909)
Toronto Board of Control (1910–1914)
38 Charles A. Maguire 1922 1923 Alderman for Ward 3 (1909–1912, 1914–1917)
Toronto Board of Control (1918–1921)
39 W. W. Hiltz 1924 1924 Toronto School Board Trustee (1911–1913)

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

40 Thomas Foster 1925 1927 Alderman for St. David Ward (1891–1892, 1894)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1900–1909)
Toronto Board of Control (1910, 1912–1913, 1915–1917, 1922–1924)
41 Sam McBride 1928 1929 Alderman 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)
42 Bert Sterling Wemp 1930 1930 Toronto School Board Trustee (1921–1922)
Alderman for Ward 2 (1924–1925)
Toronto Board of Control (1927–1929)
43 William James Stewart 1931 1934 Alderman for Ward 5 (1924–1930)
44 James Simpson 1935 1935 Toronto School Board Trustee (1905–1910)
Toronto Board of Control (1914, 1930–1934)
– Sam McBride
(2nd incumbency)		 1936 1936 (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)
45 William D. Robbins 1936 (November 18) 1937 Alderman for Ward 1 (1913–1917, 1923)
Toronto Board of Control (1918–1919, 1925, 1928, 1930–1936)
46 Ralph C. Day 1938 1940 Alderman for Ward 1 (1931–1934)
Toronto Board of Control (1935—1937)
47 Frederick J. Conboy 1941 1944 Alderman for Ward 6 (1935–1936)
Toronto Board of Control (1937–1940)
48 Robert Hood Saunders 1945 1948 (resigned February 23) Alderman for Ward 4 (1935–1936, 1940)
Toronto Board of Control (1941–1944)
49 Hiram E. McCallum 1948 1951 Alderman for Ward 8 (1941–1943)
Toronto Board of Control (1945–1948)

Metro Toronto era (1953–1997)

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
50 Allan Lamport January 1, 1952 June 28, 1954 Alderman for Ward 2 (1937)
MPP for St. David (1937–1943)
Ward 3 (1946–1948)
Toronto Board of Control (1950–1952)		 N/A
51 Leslie Howard Saunders June 28, 1954 December 31, 1954 Alderman 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
52 Nathan Phillips January 1, 1955 December 31, 1962 Alderman for Ward 4 (St. Andrew) (1926–1955) N/A
53 Donald Dean Summerville January 1, 1963 November 19, 1963 (died in office) [13] Alderman for Ward 8 (The Beaches) (1955–1958)
Toronto Board of Control (1958–1961)		 Philip Givens
54 Philip Givens November 19, 1963 (acting mayor, appointed permanently on November 25)[3][14] December 31, 1966 Alderman for Ward 5 (Trinity–Bellwoods) (1951—1960)
Toronto Board of Control (1960—1963)
President of City Council (1963)		 Allan Lamport [3]
55 William Dennison January 1, 1967 December 31, 1972 Toronto 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
56 David Crombie January 1, 1973 August 31, 1978 Alderman for Ward 11 (North Toronto) (1969–1972) Fred Beavis
57 Fred Beavis September 1, 1978 November 30, 1978 Alderman for Ward 1 (Riverdale) (1956–1978) Anne Johnston
58 John Sewell December 1, 1978 November 30, 1980 Alderman for Ward 7 (Regent Park and Riverdale) (1969–1978) Art Eggleton
59 Art Eggleton December 1, 1980 November 30, 1991 Alderman for Ward 4 (Trinity Bellwoods and Little Italy) (1969–1980) N/A
60 June Rowlands December 1, 1991 November 30, 1994 Alderman/City Councillor for Ward 10 (North Toronto and Rosedale) (1976–1988)
Chairman of the Toronto Police Commission (1988–1991)
61 Barbara Hall December 1, 1994 December 31, 1997 City 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.

On February 10, 2023, Mayor John Tory announced that he would resign as the mayor, after admitting that he had had a multi-year affair with a former staffer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tory also said that the relationship had been referred to the City's integrity commissioner for review.[20] Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie performed the duties of the mayor's office with limited powers, until the election of Tory's successor.[20][21] On June 26, 2023, Chow was elected as mayor of Toronto. She took office on July 12, 2023.

No. Mayor Took office Left office Prior political experience Deputy Mayor
62 Mel Lastman January 1, 1998 November 30, 2003 North York Board of Control (1970–1973)
Mayor of North York (1973–1997)
Metro Councillor (1970–1997)[22] 		Case Ootes
63 David Miller December 1, 2003 November 30, 2010 Metro 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
64 Rob Ford December 1, 2010 November 30, 2014 City Councillor for Ward 2 (Etobicoke North) (2000–2010) Doug Holyday (2010–2013)
Norm Kelly (2013–2014)
65 John Tory December 1, 2014 February 17, 2023[23] Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (2004–2009)
MPP for Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey (2005–2007) 		Ana Bailão (2014–2022)
Denzil Minnan-Wong (2014–2022)
Jennifer McKelvie (2022–2023)
66 Olivia Chow July 12, 2023[24] Incumbent MP for Trinity-Spadina (2006–2014)
Toronto City Councillor for Ward 20 Trinity—Spadina (1992–2005) 		Jennifer McKelvie (2023)
Ausma Malik (2023–Present)[25]

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 (2008). Historical Atlas of Toronto. Douglas & McIntyre. 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ "Ford scandal: Mayor takes leave after lewd audio, alleged drug video emerge". 680 News. Toronto, Ontario. May 1, 2014.
  20. ^ a b "Toronto Mayor John Tory steps down after admitting relationship with staffer". CBC News. February 10, 2023.
  21. ^ Cristina Tenaglia [@cristina_CP24] (February 10, 2023). "NEW: We have been advised…Mayor is resigning in the coming days-not effective tonight. #topoli #onpoli" (Tweet). Retrieved February 10, 2023 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ "Toronto City Clerk receives mayoral resignation". February 15, 2023.
  24. ^ Elvidge, John (June 27, 2023). "Statement from Toronto City Clerk". City of Toronto. Retrieved June 27, 2023. …the Mayor-elect will take office on Wednesday, July 12…
  25. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/olivia-chow-committee-appointments-1.6932465 [bare URL]
  26. ^ "Leslieville and Riverside Real Estate : How did Boulton Avenue, De Grassi Street and Morse Street get their names?". Leslieville.com. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  27. ^ "Parks, Forestry and Recreation : Art Eggleton Park". Archived from the original on September 29, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2017.

Bibliography