Mayors and Reeves of Etobicoke (1850 - 1998)
In 1849, Upper Canada passed the Municipal Corporation Act that granted Canada West’s municipalities the right to elect their own governing council. The following year Etobicoke elected its first council of five members. Here are snapshots of the 33 men who have served as reeve or mayor since then, leading the way in forming the community we are proud to live in today.
William Gamble 1850: Chosen to be reeve by the first elected council in 1950. Owned the King’s Sawmill on the Humber River near Bloor. Was a postmaster, a lumber merchant, and a store owner. Donated the land for St. George’s Anglican Church on-the-Hill. Founded the Humber Harbour and Road Company.
Joseph Smith 1851-54: A farmer in Highfield. Donated land for Highfield’s first log school in 1845, located on the corner of Martin Grove Rd. and Rexdale Blvd.
Alexander McFarlane 1855-57: Had a 350 acre farm south of Dundas at today’s Shorncliffe Rd. Was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school held in the 1832 Islington school house, buying all of the children’s supplies himself.
Edward Musson, 1858-64: Appointed first township clerk in 1850. He and his brother Thomas donated the land for St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Weston. Owned 200 acres of land where Islington Golf Course is today. Also owned a sawmill on Mimico Creek, an inn on Dundas St. east of Montgomery’s Inn, and a general store where his son Thomas served as Islington’s first postmaster in 1860. Edward founded the Etobicoke & Mono Sixth Line Plank Road Company. He built the house on the northeast corner of Burnhamthorpe and Kipling for his retirement home in 1877.
William Wallis 1865-70 & 1874-76: A farmer on the northern edge of Etobicoke between Martin Grove and Highway 27.
Matthew Canning 1871-72 & 1877-84: Owned a farm in the Richview area. His true calling was as a public servant. Joined Etobicoke’s council in 1854, and over next 30 years served as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve. Loved Etobicoke so much that he even gave one son the middle name “Etobicoke”. Matthew’s popularity earned him the affectionate title “Father of Etobicoke.” “Matthew Court” named after him in 2012.
John Clark 1873: Was a market gardener on land northwest of The Queensway and Royal York Road.
John D. Evans 1885-96 & 1907: Lived on the south side of Dundas St. in Islington, east of Cordova Av. He was a gardener and bee-keeper who was also a Justice of the Peace, insurance agent and auctioneer. Planted a row of catalpa trees along Dundas from Cordova to Islington at his own expense.
David Lyle Streight 1897-1900: Was a contractor and lumber yard owner. Persuaded council to open a road (now called Cordova Av.) to connect north and south Islington; persuaded the CPR to open a freight siding at Cordova Av.; and persuaded the United Empire Bank to open Islington’s first bank.
John T. Carr 1901: Owned a farm near Dixon Road and moved to Islington when he retired.
John Bryans 1902-05: Farmed just east of Etobicoke Creek, between Evans Av. and Horner Av.
Frank E. Shaver 1906: Farmer. Bought the first automobile in Islington – a Studebaker Flanders.
John Gardhouse 1908, 1910-12: Well known cattle breeder and livestock judge. Owned Aberfeldy Farm on Rexdale Blvd. west of Highway 27. High school trustee and director of the CNE.
Russel S. Warner 1909: Insurance agent who lived in Mimico.
Charles Silverthorn 1913-17: A member of a successful Silverthorn family of millers and farmers who owned land along Etobicoke Creek, and both north and south of Dundas St. This popular reeve died in 1917 when his automobile collided with a Toronto Suburban Railway vehicle on Dundas St., across from his home. His heir, Gideon, served as councillor 1927-34.
James Dandridge 1918: Was a market gardener north of The Queensway, west of Mimico Creek.
William G. Jackson 1919-20: Farmer and land speculator in the Lakeshore area. Became mayor of New Toronto when it became an independent village in 1913.
William J. Gardhouse 1921-24, 1932: Son of reeve John Gardhouse mentioned above. Owned 150 acre farm at Islington Av. and Elmhurst Dr. Director of many agricultural organizations. Warden of York County and Liberal MPP for York West. House still exists at 105 Elmhurst Dr.
Thomas A.C. Tier 1925-26: Had a market garden on Royal York Rd. north of Dundas St. Moved to Islington. Agent for Massey Harris. Built a red brick house which still exists at 16 Cordova Av.
J. Ray Price 1927-29: Brick manufacturer in Humber Bay. Property expropriated in 1946 for the Ontario Food Terminal.
Robert Marshall 1930-31: Farmed north of Dundas in the Cloverdale area
William A. Clarkson 1933: Prominent Thistletown stock broker.
William A. Armstrong 1934-36 & 1938-42: Head of employee relations at Hydro. In 1946 chosen as chair of Etobicoke’s first planning board. During the Depression, he was forcibly confined for 18 hours in an Alderwood school by unemployed residents.
William L. Stephens 1937: Farmer in southern Etobicoke.
Frank A.C. Butler 1943-46: Owner of Butler Funeral Home, now Turner and Porter Butler Chapel, on Dundas St. W. in Islington. Elections changed from annually to every second year. Veterans housing built at The Queensway and Royal York Rd. during his term. Expansion made to Township Hall in 1946 with additions to front and rear of building.
Clive M. Sinclair 1947-52: Lawyer, school trustee, member of first planning board, community parks official. Later appointed to Toronto Transit Commission.
Beverley Lewis 1953-56: An innkeeper in Humber Bay. Later elected Conservative MPP for Humber. Retired to Orillia where he became reeve.
H.O. (Ozzie) Waffle 1957-62: Owner of Islington Ford dealership at Dundas St. and Islington Av. Despite the 1946 township hall additions, with the post war population explosion, the township hall on Dundas St. W. could no longer meet the needs of Etobicoke’s council and citizens. During Waffle’s term as reeve, the township offices were moved to a new civic centre at 399 The West Mall. Waffle was chair of the Metro Civil Defence Organization and Queensway Hospital. Through Waffle’s good offices, Queen Elizabeth visited Etobicoke in 1958.
John P. Macbeth 1963-66: Lawyer, member of Board of Education, Conservative MPP for Humber, Hydro Commissioner, vice-chair of OPP. In 1967, the three Lakeshore municipalities rejoined Etobicoke to become a borough, making MacBeth the last reeve of Etobicoke.
Edward A. Horton 1967-72: First mayor of the Borough of Etobicoke. Deputy minister of Municipal Affairs and Welfare. Assistant to Minister of Finance. Owned E.A. Horton Sales Co. which sold municipal and playground equipment.
C. Dennis Flynn 1973-83: In 1982, elections changed to be every three years. Etobicoke became the City of Etobicoke in 1983. In 1984, he was elected as Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.
G. Bruce Sinclair 1984-93: Former teacher and guidance counsellor. Served on Board of Education. Alderman 1970-72 and controller 1973-83.
Douglas C. Holyday 1994-97: Was an insurance broker prior to joining the political life. After the municipal amalgamation of Toronto, Holyday became the last mayor of Etobicoke. Served as councillor in the amalgamated city until 2013. Known for his fiscal conservatism which brought savings for Etobicoke through changes such as the privatization of garbage collection.
Over 139 years, Etobicoke evolved from a rural area to the vibrant city it is today, shaped by the leadership and vision of its 33 reeves and mayors.
(Based on an article by Vera Halhead published in The Spires, Fall 1985, with additional research by Denise Harris in 2018.)
William Gamble 1850: Chosen to be reeve by the first elected council in 1950. Owned the King’s Sawmill on the Humber River near Bloor. Was a postmaster, a lumber merchant, and a store owner. Donated the land for St. George’s Anglican Church on-the-Hill. Founded the Humber Harbour and Road Company.
Joseph Smith 1851-54: A farmer in Highfield. Donated land for Highfield’s first log school in 1845, located on the corner of Martin Grove Rd. and Rexdale Blvd.
Alexander McFarlane 1855-57: Had a 350 acre farm south of Dundas at today’s Shorncliffe Rd. Was superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school held in the 1832 Islington school house, buying all of the children’s supplies himself.
Edward Musson, 1858-64: Appointed first township clerk in 1850. He and his brother Thomas donated the land for St. Philip’s Anglican Church in Weston. Owned 200 acres of land where Islington Golf Course is today. Also owned a sawmill on Mimico Creek, an inn on Dundas St. east of Montgomery’s Inn, and a general store where his son Thomas served as Islington’s first postmaster in 1860. Edward founded the Etobicoke & Mono Sixth Line Plank Road Company. He built the house on the northeast corner of Burnhamthorpe and Kipling for his retirement home in 1877.
William Wallis 1865-70 & 1874-76: A farmer on the northern edge of Etobicoke between Martin Grove and Highway 27.
Matthew Canning 1871-72 & 1877-84: Owned a farm in the Richview area. His true calling was as a public servant. Joined Etobicoke’s council in 1854, and over next 30 years served as councillor, deputy reeve and reeve. Loved Etobicoke so much that he even gave one son the middle name “Etobicoke”. Matthew’s popularity earned him the affectionate title “Father of Etobicoke.” “Matthew Court” named after him in 2012.
John Clark 1873: Was a market gardener on land northwest of The Queensway and Royal York Road.
John D. Evans 1885-96 & 1907: Lived on the south side of Dundas St. in Islington, east of Cordova Av. He was a gardener and bee-keeper who was also a Justice of the Peace, insurance agent and auctioneer. Planted a row of catalpa trees along Dundas from Cordova to Islington at his own expense.
David Lyle Streight 1897-1900: Was a contractor and lumber yard owner. Persuaded council to open a road (now called Cordova Av.) to connect north and south Islington; persuaded the CPR to open a freight siding at Cordova Av.; and persuaded the United Empire Bank to open Islington’s first bank.
John T. Carr 1901: Owned a farm near Dixon Road and moved to Islington when he retired.
John Bryans 1902-05: Farmed just east of Etobicoke Creek, between Evans Av. and Horner Av.
Frank E. Shaver 1906: Farmer. Bought the first automobile in Islington – a Studebaker Flanders.
John Gardhouse 1908, 1910-12: Well known cattle breeder and livestock judge. Owned Aberfeldy Farm on Rexdale Blvd. west of Highway 27. High school trustee and director of the CNE.
Russel S. Warner 1909: Insurance agent who lived in Mimico.
Charles Silverthorn 1913-17: A member of a successful Silverthorn family of millers and farmers who owned land along Etobicoke Creek, and both north and south of Dundas St. This popular reeve died in 1917 when his automobile collided with a Toronto Suburban Railway vehicle on Dundas St., across from his home. His heir, Gideon, served as councillor 1927-34.
James Dandridge 1918: Was a market gardener north of The Queensway, west of Mimico Creek.
William G. Jackson 1919-20: Farmer and land speculator in the Lakeshore area. Became mayor of New Toronto when it became an independent village in 1913.
William J. Gardhouse 1921-24, 1932: Son of reeve John Gardhouse mentioned above. Owned 150 acre farm at Islington Av. and Elmhurst Dr. Director of many agricultural organizations. Warden of York County and Liberal MPP for York West. House still exists at 105 Elmhurst Dr.
Thomas A.C. Tier 1925-26: Had a market garden on Royal York Rd. north of Dundas St. Moved to Islington. Agent for Massey Harris. Built a red brick house which still exists at 16 Cordova Av.
J. Ray Price 1927-29: Brick manufacturer in Humber Bay. Property expropriated in 1946 for the Ontario Food Terminal.
Robert Marshall 1930-31: Farmed north of Dundas in the Cloverdale area
William A. Clarkson 1933: Prominent Thistletown stock broker.
William A. Armstrong 1934-36 & 1938-42: Head of employee relations at Hydro. In 1946 chosen as chair of Etobicoke’s first planning board. During the Depression, he was forcibly confined for 18 hours in an Alderwood school by unemployed residents.
William L. Stephens 1937: Farmer in southern Etobicoke.
Frank A.C. Butler 1943-46: Owner of Butler Funeral Home, now Turner and Porter Butler Chapel, on Dundas St. W. in Islington. Elections changed from annually to every second year. Veterans housing built at The Queensway and Royal York Rd. during his term. Expansion made to Township Hall in 1946 with additions to front and rear of building.
Clive M. Sinclair 1947-52: Lawyer, school trustee, member of first planning board, community parks official. Later appointed to Toronto Transit Commission.
Beverley Lewis 1953-56: An innkeeper in Humber Bay. Later elected Conservative MPP for Humber. Retired to Orillia where he became reeve.
H.O. (Ozzie) Waffle 1957-62: Owner of Islington Ford dealership at Dundas St. and Islington Av. Despite the 1946 township hall additions, with the post war population explosion, the township hall on Dundas St. W. could no longer meet the needs of Etobicoke’s council and citizens. During Waffle’s term as reeve, the township offices were moved to a new civic centre at 399 The West Mall. Waffle was chair of the Metro Civil Defence Organization and Queensway Hospital. Through Waffle’s good offices, Queen Elizabeth visited Etobicoke in 1958.
John P. Macbeth 1963-66: Lawyer, member of Board of Education, Conservative MPP for Humber, Hydro Commissioner, vice-chair of OPP. In 1967, the three Lakeshore municipalities rejoined Etobicoke to become a borough, making MacBeth the last reeve of Etobicoke.
Edward A. Horton 1967-72: First mayor of the Borough of Etobicoke. Deputy minister of Municipal Affairs and Welfare. Assistant to Minister of Finance. Owned E.A. Horton Sales Co. which sold municipal and playground equipment.
C. Dennis Flynn 1973-83: In 1982, elections changed to be every three years. Etobicoke became the City of Etobicoke in 1983. In 1984, he was elected as Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto.
G. Bruce Sinclair 1984-93: Former teacher and guidance counsellor. Served on Board of Education. Alderman 1970-72 and controller 1973-83.
Douglas C. Holyday 1994-97: Was an insurance broker prior to joining the political life. After the municipal amalgamation of Toronto, Holyday became the last mayor of Etobicoke. Served as councillor in the amalgamated city until 2013. Known for his fiscal conservatism which brought savings for Etobicoke through changes such as the privatization of garbage collection.
Over 139 years, Etobicoke evolved from a rural area to the vibrant city it is today, shaped by the leadership and vision of its 33 reeves and mayors.
(Based on an article by Vera Halhead published in The Spires, Fall 1985, with additional research by Denise Harris in 2018.)