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People


Bill Bonar

Mimico fisherman Bill Bonar was born in Ireland in 1886 and learned how to fish from his grandfather. 
Leo Chard

Leo Chard ​had come to Canada from England in 1889 at age 18.  Starting early, he owned several Ontario farms including one in Lambton Mills.
Death Family of Etobicoke

The Death family of Etobicoke can trace their ancestry back to 1527 with the birth of William Deathe of Dartford, England.
George Hebdon Corsan

George Hebdon Corsan is an interesting man known as "The Nut Man of Islington"
Francis (Frank) Dawson​

There is a grave marker in St. George’s on-the-Hill Anglican Church that says, “Francis (Frank) Dawson, Feb. 21, 1896 – Oct. 21, 1982, A Friend to All” - but who was this man?
Robert DeCoursier 

From the beginning of this tale of murder in the quiet Etobicoke village of Lambton Mills, there was never any doubt that Robert DeCoursier was the murderer, and his brother...the victim.
John Dillon Evans

John Dillon Evans, a resident of Islington village from 1879 to 1920, was active in Etobicoke municipal politics for many years.  He and his wife Isabella built a large brick house they called Elmcrest.
Lucille Gamble

In the late 50s and early 60s, Gus Ryder's first champion distance swimmer was well-known in New Toronto, the "hotbed" of swimming in Ontario.
Gardhouse Family

The Gardhouse family settled in north Etobicoke in a village called Highfield, set amid some of the province’s best agricultural land.
John Garland

John Garland was a popular Liberal MP from Nipissing who was first elected in 1949.  Among other things, he was responsible for housing, including low income housing. 
Joshua Glover

Joshua Glover was a slave who ran away from his owner in St. Louis, Missouri in the spring of 1852 - and ended up in Etobicoke.
Dr. Forbes Godfrey​

In 1907, Dr. Godfrey entered politics as a Conservative candidate. His main goal, he told supporters, was to seek legislation to promote preventative medicine.
Christopher Holdenby

Christopher Holdenby was a talented artist and musician, who taught himself not only to draw, but to play piano and violin beautifully.
Gertrude Hornell

Mrs. Hornell began working for Labour about 1923. She was in her mid-40s and likely needed the work. She was a Labour pioneer some 100 years ago - helping to make work safer.
Howland Family

In 1620 John Howland arrived at Plymouth Massachusetts aboard the Mayflower as a Pilgrim Father. In 1830, his descendants arrived in the area and over time, built a business empire.
Henry Jackson

For the 21 years prior to 1830, the land where Montgomery's Inn sits was leased to Henry Jackson, who lived there with his family, built a house, and cleared 50 acres of land. 
Frederick and Margaret James

This couple is responsible for Etobicoke’s beautiful James Gardens, which cover 21 acres of hills, valley and forest beside the Humber River, south of Edenbridge Drive.
Johnston Family

The Johnston Family holds a special place in the history of the Islington area of Etobicoke as they were its first permanent settlers - and stayed for 177 years! 
John Kay

From the first moment John Kay set eyes on Mimico, he was struck by its beauty and resolved to build a cottage on its waterfront.  
Loblaw Family
​

The history of the Loblaw family in Toronto begins with Theodore Pringle (T.P.) Loblaw who moved to Toronto from Alliston, Ontario in 1890.  
MacPherson Family
​

On April 30, 1859, Sage Rowland married Alexander MacPherson, the teacher at the local school who had been boarding in her home and began a new family together.  
Thomas Montgomery's Missives
​

Some letters shed light on some of the challenges and hardships Thomas Montgomery (1790-1877) faced at one of his land holdings in southwest Ontario.
Walter Moorhouse
​

Walter Moorhouse's photos offer rare glimpses into Etobicoke's past. After his death in 1957, over 5000 photos and 500 meters of film were donated to the Ontario Archives. 
Frank Ridley
​

Frank was born in London, England in February, 1904, the son of John Ridley and Agnes Fretwell. John was a naval architect, and responsible for the building of several stately homes in Etobicoke.
Rowntree Family
​

The story of the Rowntree family in northern Etobicoke began in 1832 when John Rowntree purchased 32 acres between the Humber River and Kipling Avenue.
Gord Sinclair

Television icon Gordon Sinclair was born in 1900 in Cabbagetown, but eventually called Etobicoke his home.
Robert Home Smith

Robert Home Smith is best remembered today for his development of The Kingsway and for his Old Mill Restaurant.    
William Tyrrell

Mr. Tyrrell was a well-known architect and builder who designed and supervised construction of many buildings, particularly in the Weston area, where he lived until his death in 1904.        
Amos Waites

Amos Waites was a former councillor and mayor of the town Mimico and was born in 1895 on the Queensway, just a little west of Kipling.       
Wood Family

The Six Points intersection - where Dundas, Bloor, and Kipling meet - was once called “Wood’s Corner” - after the family that eventually owned land on five of its six points..        

Lists & Records of People

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.

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