A number of municipalities were amalgamated into the City of Toronto and the boroughs of Metropolitan Toronto in 1967. A second round of amalgamation merged additional municipalities into the City of Toronto in 1998. Lists of the former chief elected officials of these former municipalities, whether titled as reeves or mayors, are provided below.
Municipalities absorbed in 1967 The following municipalities were amalgamated into the existing townships of Etobicoke, Scarborough, North York, East York, York, (henceforth boroughs) or the old City of Toronto, effective January 1, 1967 as part of a reorganization of Metropolitan Toronto.
Forest Hill Reeves of the Village of Forest Hill: 1924–28 Lawrence H. Baldwin 1929–30 A.H. Keith Russell 1931–32 Andrew Hazlett 1933–35 Dr. Hugh M. Cook 1936–37 Arthur S. Leitch 1938–49 Frederick Goldwin Gardiner - became the first Metropolitan Toronto Chairman (1953-1962) 1950–51 Bruce Pettit Davis - lawyerAcclaim Council In Forest Hill The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]18 Nov 1950: 5. 1952 Stewart Robertson - investment brokerFormer Reeve Of Forest Hill Served Overseas Robertson, Stewart. The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]11 Sep 1954: 8 1953-55 Charles O. Bick - resigned to become the first chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Board of Police Commissioners (1955-1977)He May Be Bad Omen, New Reeve Warns Metro The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]16 May 1956: 5. 1956–62 Laurie T. Simonsky - a merchant, and past president of Holy Blossom TempleReeve Acclaimed In Forest Hill The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]20 Nov 1956: 9Laurie T. Simonsky The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]21 Dec 1951: 5 1963–67 Edwin J. Pivnick - a professional engineer and a lawyer, was a physics lecturer at University of Toronto before attending law school. Was first elected to council in 1959. As reeve and a Metro Toronto Councillor, served on Metro's executive committee in 1964 and 1965. Considered running for Mayor of Toronto in 1969 as an official Liberal Party candidate but withdrew his name from consideration at the nominating convention.Lawyer last Forest Hill reeve The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]17 June 1980: 11.Edward Pivnick Forest Hill reeve, Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]17 June 1980: A15.'Ouf to beat Old Guard': No party split: Clarkson, Enright, Michael. The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]25 Sep 1969: 5.
Leaside Mayors of Leaside from the town's incorporation until its merger into East York. 1913-1914 Randolph McRae - former official in the Canadian Northern Railway's Land Department 1915-1923 Robert Phipps Ormsby - secretary of the Canadian National RailwaySAY THIS MAYOR SHOULD LOSE JOB: C.N.R. Employees at Leaside Are After Scalp of R. P. Ormsby The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]29 Dec 1920: 6. 1924-1930 Herbert Horsfall - president of Canada Wire and Cable Company, co-founder of the Leaside Munitions Company, and president of the Leaside Housing Company.Obituaries: Former Leaside Mayor, Herbert Horsfall Dies The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]22 Aug 1955: 11 1931-1935 George H. Wilkinson - station agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway in ParkdaleMAKER OF VIOLINS TOUCHED WITH GENIUS McAREE, J V.The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]17 Apr 1948: 6 1936-1937 John ScottMayor of Leaside Loses Third Term, Toronto Daily Star (1900-1971); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]07 Dec 1937: 6. 1938-1947 Henry Howard Talbot - a carpenter by trade, he started a construction business and in the 1920s, bought land in Leaside and became a land developer, building homes and a low-rise apartment building 1948-1950 G. Trace Manes - one of the founders of the Leaside Baseball Association,What is in a name?: [ONT Edition] Winsa, Patty. Toronto Star; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]16 Nov 2007: A17. Manes worked for Massey-Harris for 38 years. After serving as mayor he was a member of the Metro Planning BoardMetro Planner Leaside Mayor For Three Years G Tracy Manes. The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]12 Jan 1954: 31 1951-1955 Howard T. Burrell - a chartered accountant by professionBurrell Opposes Birrell For Leaside Mayoralty The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]30 Nov 1950: 5. 1956-1961 Charles Henry Hiscott - resigned as mayor to become the town's treasurer. Subsequently, worked as a bylaw enforcement officer and standards tribunal officer for East York.Leaside mayor was treasurer Hiscott, Charles H.The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]24 Jan 1974: 55. 1962 Lloyd M. Dickinson - an entrepreneur, Dickinson variously owned a plastics products firm, a real estate holding company, and in the 1970s built the first industrial condominiums in Canada.Lloyd Dickinson, 65, served as councillor, Leaside mayor: [SAT Edition] Robert Sutton Toronto Star. Toronto Star; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]08 Feb 1986: A12.Lloyd Dickinson, The Globe and Mail; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]07 Feb 1986: S.9. 1963-1966 Beth Nealson - a former reporter and columnist for a local newspaper, she first ran for school trustee at the urging of her colleagues in the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire in 1952. Went on to be elected to Leaside council in 1959 and ran for mayor against Dickinson in the next election, defeating him by 5 votes after a recount. She became known as "Mrs. Leaside". When East York and Leaside were amalgamated she ran against East York reeve True Davidson to be mayor of the new borough in what was billed by the media as the "Battle of the Belles".Beth Nealson, 83 last mayor of Leaside: [SA2 Edition] Desmond Bill Toronto Star. Toronto Star; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]15 Jan 1994: A6
Long Branch Reeves of the Village of Long Branch: 1931–1932, 1934-1936 John Shannon 1933 Robert A. Westbrook 1937 Joseph C. Deyman 1938–1941, 1944 Samuel Thomas Wright, previously Conservative MPP for Dovercourt (1926-1934) 1942-1943 John Ord (Jack) Elton - general manager for a supermarket chainJohn Ord (Jack) Elton, Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]16 Oct 1988: E10. 1945–1947, 1951-1953 Thomas F. Carter - In 1954, ran for the federal Progressive Conservative nomination for York West but was defeated by John Borden Hamilton who went on to win the by-electionToronto Lawyer Chosen In Adamson's Riding; More Than 1,000 Attend The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]09 June 1954: 1 1948-1950 Lawrence Iles - owned a butcher shopA Decade of Growth: Stirrings of Amalgamation Schrag, Lex. The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]02 Feb 1960: 7 1954-1962 Marie Curtis - only woman to become reeve of Long Branch. She and Dorothy Hague were the first women reeves or mayors in the Toronto area. 1963-1964 Leonard E. Ford - advocated the merger of Long Branch with Mimico and New Toronto rather than amalgamation of Metro Toronto.Long Branch: 3 Vie to Succeed Mrs. Curtis The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]28 Nov 1962: 9. 1965-1966 Thomas Berry - grew up in a London orphanage as his merchant seaman father was unable to care for him. Berry, himself, joined the British Merchant Navy when he was 15 and was torpedoed three times during World War II. After the war he trained as a steamfitter and then moved to Canada with his wife and child, settling in Long Branch in 1947 where he lived on the same street for the next 50 years. He was active with the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union becoming business agent of his union local as well as its chief negotiator, and a member of the New Democratic Party. He was elected reeve in 1964 and fought a losing battle against Long Branch's amalgamation into Etobicoke. He also crusaded to save a local school from demolition, it reopened in 1970 as the Thomas Berry Daycare Centre. On Metro Toronto Council, he successfully fought against plans to tear down Toronto's Old City Hall.Thomas Berry last reeve of Long Branch, Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]21 Nov 1997: E5.
Mimico Mayors of the Town of Mimico: 1911-1914 Robert Skelton (Reeve) 1915 Caesar Coxhead (Reeve) 1914, 1916-1918 John Harrison (Mayor from 1917) 1919-1920 Louis West 1921-1925 John Doughty 1926 William Savage 1927-1929, 1955-1960 Gus Edwards - A railway engineer, Edwards was nicknamed "Metropolitan Gus" for his long-time advocacy for uniting the city of Toronto with its suburbs in a federation. Edwards first advocated a metropolitan form of government in 1926 and continued his campaign while on York County council in the 1930s. He opposed the construction of the Bloor-Danforth subway line and the Toronto Transit Commission's system of fare zones which charged suburban riders double fares.Metropolitan Toronto: Steam in the Boiler Yet, Gus Will Write a Book Godfrey, Scott. The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]12 Dec 1960: 7Amalgamation's Father: Metropolitan Toronto Schrag, Lex. The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]09 Dec 1955: 3. 1930–1932 Robert Waites - a builder, he was the uncle of later mayor Amos WaitesMimico ex-Mayor Dies After Fall The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]08 Feb 1944: 4. Waites often quarreled with other town officials, including the reeve and town clerk.Mimico Mayor and Reeve Clash, With Town Clerk Joining in Fray Special Despatch to The Globe.The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]25 Feb 1930: 13. In one instance Waites ordered the town's chief constable to remove the reeve and deputy reeve from a council meeting,BEDLAM IS LOOSE AND POLICE CALLED AT MIMICO COUNCIL: Mayor Waites and Reeve Murphy Centres of Storm COMMON SENSE URGED The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]27 May 1930: 13. and in another incident his rival, Archibald Norris, accusing Waites of acting like a "little local Mussolini".VERBAL BATTLES AS COUNCIL MEETS: "Little Local Mussolini" Is Term Thrown at Mayor of Mimico The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]11 Aug 1931: 9. Waites was ruled to be in contravention of the Municipal Act for his company accepting payment from the town's sewage commission for construction and maintenance work, but was not removed from office.COUNCIL IN UPROAR AS MIMIGO MAYOR REFUSES MINUTES: They Include Request for Judge's Ruling on His Conduct SIGNED UNDER PROTEST The Globe (1844-1936); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]27 May 1931: 13.Seat is unchallenged, Toronto Daily Star (1900-1971); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]06 June 1931: 22. 1933–1935, 1941–1942, 1946, 1949–1954 Archibald Norris - Elected or acclaimed to 12 terms, Norris was Mimico's longest serving mayor.Mimico Mayor Sets a Record With 12 Terms The Globe and Mail (1936-2016); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]04 Dec 1953: 4. He immigrated to Canada from Deal, England in 1912. Operated a grocery store for 12 years before entering the insurance business. First elected to town council in 1916.Service today for former Mimico mayor, Toronto Daily Star (1900-1971); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]23 Nov 1967: B35