The Board of Control of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was a part of its municipal government until it was abolished in 1969. It served as the executive committee of the Toronto City Council. When it was initially created in 1896 by mandate of the provincial government, it consisted of three Controllers appointed from and by the aldermen, and presided over by the Mayor of Toronto. Beginning in 1904, the Board of Control was directly elected by the city's electorate and consisted of four Controllers, presided over by the Mayor. Each voter could vote for up to four candidates, and the four with the most votes were elected. By tradition the controller who received the most votes was given the powerful budget chief position.

Functions

Under the Municipal Act, the Board of Control had the following duties and powers:

  1. the preparation and certification of all estimates for expenditures
  2. the preparation of specifications for tenders, and making awards thereon
  3. the nomination to council of all heads of departments and related staff, and the recommendation of appropriate salaries
  4. the inspection and reporting (at least monthly) on all municipal works carried on or in progress
  5. the submission of by-laws to the council
  6. the authority to amalgamate departments and sub-departments
  7. other powers as the council has delegated by-law or resolution

With respect to the first three items, the board's actions could only be overturned by a two-thirds vote of the council.

History

From 1896 until 1904, the Toronto Board of Control was an executive branch of Council, chaired by the Mayor. It handled all daily business of Council and reported to Council.

In the early 20th century, elected Boards of Control were introduced as a reform measure for all cities in Ontario. The board was designed to be the equivalent of a cabinet for municipal governments. It had certain specific duties such as issuing tenders and appointing department heads. In Toronto it often did not function as such. Since the controllers were elected separately from the mayor, there was no guarantee they would be allied. Moreover, since controllers contested citywide elections they were often seen as the natural contenders for the mayoralty and as challengers to the incumbent mayor. Many controllers thus had a self-interest in blocking the mayor from succeeding. Relations between the Board of Control and council were also sometimes difficult, with the Board often acting as an independent council at odds with the larger body.

In 1961 the provincial government allowed cities with more than 100,000 people to abolish the Board of Control. Toronto City Council voted to do so in December 1968 after a long debate. The move was opposed by Mayor William Dennison along with three of the sitting controllers, but it was passed by a significant majority of council. The Board of Control was replaced with a new executive committee that was composed of and elected by city council members. The size of city council was expanded by four to retain the same overall number of councillors.

William Peyton Hubbard, the son of American slaves who had escaped to Canada through the Underground Railroad, was elected to the first Board of Control in 1904 and served for four terms - he would be the only Black person or person of colour to sit on the body; Joseph Singer became the first Jewish candidate to win citywide office in 1923; Jean Newman was the first woman elected to the Board and served from 1957 to 1960.

City of Toronto Controllers

Names in boldface indicate Controllers that became Mayor of Toronto in other years. Names in italics are individuals who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor.

X = elected as Controller

M = sitting as Mayor

B = elected as Controller in a by-election

A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy

From 1896 to 1903

Municipal Boards of Control were created by the provincial government as a reform measure. From 1896 to 1903 the Toronto Board of Control was appointed by vote of Toronto City Council from among its own members and acted as an executive committee or municipal cabinet. Controllers were chosen at the first council meeting in January after the annual municipal election. Three Controllers sat on the Board, in addition to the Mayor, until 1901 when the number of Controllers was increased to four.

Appointments to the Board of Control for the City of Toronto (1896-1903)
Controller18961897189818991900190119021903
William BurnsAAA
James CraneA
Robert Fleming*MM
James FrameAA
John James GrahamAAA
Oliver Aiken HowlandMM
William Peyton HubbardAA
Daniel LambAAA
John LeslieAA
John Francis LoudonAA
Adam LyndA
Ernest A. MacdonaldM
George McMurrichAA
Joseph OliverA
Fred H. RichardsonA
John Shaw*MMM
Oliver Barton SheppardAA
Francis Stephens SpenceA
Thomas UrquhartM
Francis H. WoodsA

*Fleming resigned as mayor on August 6, 1897. Council elected Shaw to complete his term.

From 1904 to 1929

Originally, the Board of Control was appointed by the city council. In 1903, the Ontario legislature passed a law requiring municipal boards of control to be chosen through direct election by the municipality's voters. This requirement became effective in Toronto with the 1904 municipal election.

Elections to the Board of Control for the City of Toronto (1904-1929)
Controller19041905190619071908190919101911191219131914191519161917191819191920192119221923192419251926192719281929
R.H. CameronXXXXX
Emerson CoatsworthMM
Tommy ChurchXXXXXMMMMMMM
Thomas FosterXXXXXXXXXMMM
George Reginald GearyXMMM
Joseph GibbonsXXXXXXXXXX
Albert HackerXXXXXX
William Spence HarrisonXXX
Wesley HiltzXXXM
Horatio Clarence HockenXXXXXMM
William Peyton HubbardXXXX
S. Alfred JonesX
John F. LoudonX
Charles A. MaguireXXXXMM
Sam McBrideXXXMM
J.O. McCarthyXXX
D.C. MacGregorXXX
John O'NeillXXXXXX
A.R. NesbittXX
Joseph OliverMM
J. George RamsdenX
Fred H. Richardson*X
William D. RobbinsXXXX
John Shaw*BXX
William Henry ShawX
James SimpsonX
Joseph SingerX
Francis Stephens SpenceXXXXXX
W.A. SummervilleX
Joseph Elijah ThompsonXX
Thomas UrquhartMM
John J. WardXXXXXXX
Bert WempXXX

* Richardson resigned after his election agent was charged with bribery. Shaw was elected to replace him in a by-election.

1930s and 1940s

Elections to the Board of Control for the City of Toronto (1930-1949)
Controller193019311932193319341935Jan 1936Dec 1936193719391940194119421943194419451946194719481949
David BalfourXXXXXX
Frederick J. ConboyXXXXMMMM
Ralph DayXXXMMM
Lewis DuncanXXX
Albert HackerX
Fred HamiltonXXXXXXXX
John InnesXXX
Allan LamportX
Sam McBrideXXXXM
Hiram E. McCallumXXXXM
Kenneth Bert McKellarXXX
Douglas McNishXXX
Claude PearceX
J. George RamsdenXXXXX
William D. RobbinsXXXXXXXM
Leslie SaundersX
Robert Hood SaundersXXXXMMMM
James SimpsonXXXXXM
Stewart SmithXX
William James StewartMMMM
W.A. SummervilleX
William J. WadsworthXXXXXXXXXXX
Bert WempM

From 1950 to abolition

With the formation of Metropolitan Toronto in April 1953, the two most senior controllers, in terms of votes at the municipal election, also sat on Metropolitan Toronto Council along with the Mayor of Toronto, the senior alderman from each of Toronto's nine wards, and mayors and reeves elected from the suburbs.

Elections to the Board of Control for the City of Toronto (1950-1966)
ControllerJan 1950Dec 195019511952195319541955195619581960196219641966
William AllenXXXX
William Archer*AX
David BalfourXXXXXX
Roy E. Belyea**AX
Ford BrandXXXXXX
Margaret CampbellXX
Joseph CornishXXX
William DennisonXXXXM
Philip Givens*XX/MM
John InnesXX
Allan Lamport***XMMMXX
Ross Lipsett ***A
June MarksX
Hiram E. McCallumMM
Jean NewmanXX
Herbert OrliffeXXX
Nathan PhillipsMMMMM
Leslie Saunders***XXXXX/MX
Louis Shannon**XXXX
Donald Summerville*XXM

* Mayor Summerville died in office, Givens was appointed mayor in his place. Archer was appointed to the Board of Control to fill the vacancy.

** In 1954, Controller Shannon died and Ward 9 Alderman Roy E. Belyea was appointed in his place.

*** Mayor Lamport resigned as mayor to become vice-chairman of the Toronto Transit Commission, Saunders was appointed mayor in his place and Ward 8 Alderman Ross Lipsett was appointed to the Board of Control to fill the vacancy.

Election results

1966

Margaret Campbell - 88,036

June Marks - 77,655

Herbert Orliffe - 76,412

Allan Lamport - 67,677

George Ben - 63,206

Joseph Piccininni - 58,122

Phyllis Clarke - 10,162

Arthur Young - 9,550

John Charles Ewing - 6,071

Dorothy Cureatz - 4,262

Shaba Musa - 2,399

1964

William Dennison - 68,892

Herbert Orliffe - 66,280

William Archer - 65,593

Margaret Campbell - 60,900

George Ben - 59,751

Richard Horkins - 47,906

Harry Bradley - 12,949

Phyllis Clarke - 10,284

Fred Graham - 9,673

Patricia Mitchell - 6,750

1962

Philip Givens - 88,629

Allan Lamport - 84,902

William Dennison - 76,504

Herbert Orliffe - 73,118

Margaret Campbell - 72,108

Ken Waters - 62,019

Phyllis Clarke - 16,151

Frederick Graham - 10,475

Dorothy Cureatz - 6,752

1960

Donald Summerville - 110,893

William Allen - 110,256

William Dennison - 76,169

Philip Givens - 66,972

Herbert Orliffe - 65,418

Francis Chambers - 30,696

William Harris - 14,493

Jessie Jackson - 14,062

Burke - 13,240

1958

Jean Newman - 59,243

William Allen- 52,462

Donald Summerville - 49,476

William Dennison - 33,612

Leslie Saunders - 33,469

Roy E. Belyea - 27,024

Ross Parry - 25,195

James Karfilis - 10,971

Harry Bradley - 10,499

Ross Dowson - 4,539

George Rolland - 3,834

1956

Jean Newman - 54,785

Ford Brand - 54,178

William Allen - 54,038

Joseph Cornish - 49,385

Leslie Saunders - 47,048

Harry Bradley - 16,450

Charles Sims - 6961

George Rolland - 5,632

1955

Ford Brand - 59,264

Joseph Cornish - 55,162

William Allen - 53,455

Leslie Saunders - 46,528

Arthur J. Brown - 41,351

Harry Bradley - 14,802

Alex Hodgins - 13,503

Harry Hunter - 9,493

George Rolland - 3,923

George Stanton - 3,863

1954

Ford Brand - 69,540

Roy E. Belyea - 66,223

David Balfour - 62,871

Joseph Cornish - 55,277

Ross Lipsett - 45,385

Harry Bradley - 20,488

Harry Hunter - 14,114

Nobleman - 9,413

George Rolland - 5,280

1953

Leslie Saunders - 62,397

Louis Shannon - 57,635

Ford Brand - 54,635

David Balfour - 51,393

Joseph Cornish - 46,701

Harry Bradley - 18,686

Harry Hunter - 14,194

1952

Leslie Saunders - 71,597

Louis Shannon - 61,154

David Balfour - 58,898

Ford Brand - 58,648

Joseph Cornish - 41,086

John McMechan - 30,219

Stewart Smith - 19,061

Harry Bradley - 17,480

Frederick Vacher - 7,065

Mahoney - 7,046

1951

Leslie Saunders - 95,838

Ford Brand - 92,725

David Balfour - 91,474

Louis Shannon - 87,440

Stewart Smith - 31,317

Frederick Vacher - 20,039

December 1950

John Innes - 93,656

David Balfour - 81,577

Leslie Saunders - 80,703

Louis Shannon - 74,859

Ford Brand - 66,235

W.H. Collings - 59,380

Stewart Smith - 28,309

Mahoney - 8,210

Frederick Vacher - 7,653

January 1950

John Innes - 96,139

Leslie Saunders - 87,799

David Balfour - 78,090

Allan Lamport - 72,436

Louis Shannon - 72,059

Stewart Smith - 45,251

Harry Bradley- 21,719

Frederick Vacher - 9,850

1949

John Innes - 53,599

Leslie Saunders - 57,746

David Balfour - 55,271

Allan Lamport - 52,037

Stewart Smith - 43,364

Kenneth Bert McKellar (incumbent) - 41,846

Leonard Reilly - 20,756

E.C. Roelofson (incumbent) - 11,905

Harry Bradley- 9,701

1948

Hiram E. McCallum - 83,812

John Innes - 80,834

David Balfour - 77,087

Kenneth Bert McKellar - 75,356

Stewart Smith - 47,791

Harry Bradley - 15,711

Harry Clairmont - 4,858

1947

Hiram E. McCallum - 58,524

John Innes - 53,137

David Balfour - 51,578

Kenneth Bert McKellar - 49,680

Stewart Smith - 42,106

M.A. Sanderson - 26,136

Harry Bradley - 10,749

Harry Clairmont - 4,858

1946

Hiram E. McCallum - 42,126

Stewart Smith - 41,637

David Balfour - 40,632

Kenneth Bert McKellar - 35,627

William J. Wadsworth - 35,477

Leslie Saunders - 22,040

Harry Bradley - 6,796

1945

David Balfour - 47,931

William J. Wadsworth - 45,942

Stewart Smith - 41,691

Hiram E. McCallum - 41,201

Leslie Saunders - 34,587

E.C. Bogart - 34,258

C.D Millen - 30,235

Harry Bradley - 9,589

1944

Robert Hood Saunders (incumbent) - 73,383

Fred Hamilton (incumbent) - 52,694

William J. Wadsworth (incumbent) - 52,485

David Balfour - 50,599

Hiram E. McCallum - 50,337

Stewart Smith - 41,277

William Dennison - 30,026

William Muir - 19,061

Harry Bradley - 7,743

1943

Lewis Duncan - 40,060

Robert Hood Saunders - 33,081

Fred Hamilton - 28,919

William J. Wadsworth - 27,031

C.E. Reynolds - 26,194

Minerva Reid - 18,320

J.C. Irwin - 16,860

G.P. Granell - 5,010

Harry Bradley - 3,590

1942

Lewis Duncan - 41,656

Robert Hood Saunders - 28,923

Fred Hamilton - 28,853

William J. Wadsworth - 27,022

Ralph Day - 24,208

Minerva Reid - 20,337

J.C. Irwin - 18,272

N. Macmillan - 5,179

Harry Bradley - 3,102

1941

Lewis Duncan - 49,382

Fred Hamilton - 39,021

Robert Hood Saunders - 37,417

William J. Wadsworth - 33,411

Adelaide Plumptre - 33,021

Ernest Bray - 26,391

David A. Balfour - 20,849

Day - 4,645

Harry Bradley - 3,271

Harding - 2,523

1940

Frederick J. Conboy - 78,672

Douglas McNish - 68,774

Fred Hamilton - 60,124

William J. Wadsworth - 55,756

David A. Balfour - 43,261

Stewart Smith - 19,641

Harding - 6,548

January 1939

Frederick J. Conboy - 80,720

Douglas McNish - 73,252

Fred Hamilton - 54,516

William J. Wadsworth - 49,446

William Croft - 48,798

Tim Buck - 43,112

Robert Hood Saunders - 40,973

William D. Robbins - 24,745

Harry Bradley - 3,489

December 1937

Frederick J. Conboy - 60,665

William J. Wadsworth - 53,766

Fred Hamilton - 47,493

Douglas McNish - 44,402

Tim Buck - 44,248

Robert Hood Saunders - 41,817

Robert Allen - 15,283

Harry Bradley - 4,623

December 1936

Ralph Day - 56,847

Frederick J. Conboy - 48,976

William J. Wadsworth - 48,047

Fred Hamilton - 39,003

Douglas McNish - 32,265

Tim Buck - 31,342

Alfred Burgess - 3,983

Harry Bradley - 3,295

January 1936

Ralph Day - 68,335

William J. Wadsworth - 62,838

J. George Ramsden - 52,170

William D. Robbins - 51,465

Joseph Enoch Thompson - 31,546

Miller - 30,613

Tim Buck - 20,873

Harry Bradley - 4,986

1935

Sam McBride - 71,177

William J. Wadsworth - 58,783

William D. Robbins - 44,820

Ralph Day - 41,515

Claude Pierce - 34,064

Adelaide Plumptre - 32,872

A.E. Hacker - 29,110

Frank Regan - 26,242

Tim Buck - 9,938

1934

Sam McBride - 54,855

J. George Ramsden - 48,152

James Simpson - 47,358

William D. Robbins - 37,714

William J. Wadsworth - 36,289

Claude Pierce - 31,156

Percy Quinn - 26,872

Alice Buck - 9,767

Harry Bradley - 2,623

1933

J. George Ramsden - 55,503

Sam McBride - 55,323

James Simpson - 54,218

William D. Robbins - 48,061

Albert Hacker - 37,019

John Boland - 36,645

William Miller - 18,836

Cotton - 11,871

Alice Buck - 10,155

W.J. Haire - 3,066

J.H.H. Ballantyne - 2,183

1932

James Simpson - 42,010

J. George Ramsden - 38,200

Sam McBride - 31,939

William D. Robbins - 31,067

Albert Hacker - 30,348

Claude Pearce - 23,659

Cotton - 6,440

Tim Buck - 5,974

Harry Bradley - 1,726

1931

J. George Ramsden - 51,043

William D. Robbins - 50,801

James Simpson - 48,105

Albert Hacker - 43,763

John Boland - 41,779

Claude Pearce (incumbent) - 40,431

W.A. Summerville (incumbent) - 19,087

Foster - 13,491

Cotton - 9,014

King - 3,154

Tim Buck - 3,010

1930

W.A. Summerville (incumbent) - 47,418

Claude Pearce - 46,692

James Simpson - 44,921

William D. Robbins - 39,023

Benjamin Miller - 37,156

Frank Whetter (incumbent) - 31,772

Brook Sykes - 28,043

Wesley Benson - 25,054

Harry Bradley - 2,617

1929

Bert Wemp (incumbent) - 43,464

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 32,734

W.A. Summerville - 30,292

A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 28,667

R.H. Cameron - 27,266

Claude Pearce - 27,245

William D. Robbins (incumbent) - 23,796

James Simpson - 12,816

1928

Bert Wemp (incumbent) - 47,153

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 45,655

A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 33,433

William D. Robbins - 29,359

D.C. MacGregor (incumbent) - 28,858

Brook Sykes - 24,427

Miller - 18,122

James Simpson - 12,954

1927

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 48,739

A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 43,153

D.C. MacGregor (incumbent) - 34,813

Bert Wemp - 34,450

J. George Ramsden - 26,489

Clifford Blackburn - 22,959

Frank Whetter - 21,878

James Simpson - 10,946

1926

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 37,608

Sam McBride - 36,211

A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 31,427

D.C. MacGregor (incumbent) - 30,975

William D. Robbins - 30,320

William C. McBrien - 29,923

Bert Wemp - 28,024

Frank Whetter - 21,722

W.E. Hamilton - 2,590

1925

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 39,299

A.E. Hacker (incumbent) - 34,369

William D. Robbins - 33,172

D.C. MacGregor - 30,326

R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 29,086

James Simpson - 14,573

Birks - 4,321

1924

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 42,778

Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 34,435

A.E. Hacker - 32,689

R.H. Cameron - 30,621

D.C. MacGregor - 26,637

William D. Robbins - 26,594

F.M. Johnston - 22,542

J.R. Beamish - 20,161

1923

Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 36,040

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 33,740

Wesley Hiltz (incumbent) - 32,551

Joseph Singer - 32,033

Sam McBride - 30,606

A.R. Nesbitt (incumbent) - 29,947

Alfred Burgess - 24,876

James Russell Lovett Starr - 25,931

1922

Thomas Foster - 23,355

Wesley Hiltz (incumbent) - 20,001

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 18,647

A.R. Nesbitt (incumbent) - 16,453

William D. Robbins - 16,814

R.H. Cameron - 15,403

J. George Ramsden - 14,721

Clifford Blackburn - 12,950

William Varley - 3,419

1921

Charles A. Maguire (incumbent) - 34,141

Wesley Hiltz - 22,615

Joseph Gibbons (incumbent) - 18,612

A.R. Nesbitt - 19,202

William D. Robbins - 18,015

R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 17,872

J. George Ramsden (incumbent) - 17,393

Herbert Henry Ball - 16,911

1920

Charles A. Maguire (incumbent) - 28,438

Joseph Gibbons - 23,269

R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 21,055

J. George Ramsden - 18,473

William D. Robbins (incumbent) - 17,716

Herbert Henry Ball - 16,506

James Simpson - 10,832

Wright - 7,927

1919

Charles A. Maguire (incumbent) - 19,963

R.H. Cameron - 19,094

Sam McBride (incumbent) - 18,476

William D. Robbins (incumbent) - 19,270

Joseph Gibbons - 16,397

Garnet Archibald - 15,603

Fred McBrien - 13,570

1918

John O'Neill (incumbent) - 24,952

William D. Robbins - 19,000

Sam McBride - 17,850

Charles A. Maguire - 17,711

William Henry Shaw (incumbent) - 14,255

D.C. MacGregor - 14,468

Garnet Archibald - 8,992

Miles Vokes - 2,720

Edward Meek - 2,262

1917

R.H. Cameron (incumbent) - 15,615

John O'Neill (incumbent) - 15,141

Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 13,939

William Henry Shaw - 11,967

James Simpson - 10,779

Sam McBride - 10,085

Francis Stephens Spence - 9,281

1916

Joseph Elijah Thompson (incumbent) -18,209

John O'Neill (incumbent) - 17,572

Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 16,085

R.H. Cameron - 15,391

James Simpson (incumbent) - 13,080

Francis Stephens Spence (incumbent) - 12,652

John Dunn - 11,009

1915

John O'Neill (incumbent) - 20,751

Thomas Foster - 18,608

Francis Stephens Spence - 17,747

Joseph Elijah Thompson - 16,505

James Simpson (incumbent) - 16,349

Fred McBrien - 15,447

John Wanless - 13,044

1914

James Simpson - 20,695

J.O. McCarthy (incumbent) - 17,490

Tommy Church (incumbent) - 17,085

John O'Neill (incumbent) - 14,597

Joseph Elijah Thompson - 14,233

Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 13,929

Robert Yeomans - 11,708

Eckardt - 7,755

1913

Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 15,861

John O'Neill - 14,600

J.O. McCarthy (incumbent) - 14,036

Tommy Church (incumbent) - 12,765

Francis Stephens Spence (incumbent) - 11,976

Robert Yeomens - 10,713

James Simpson - 10,122

Charles A. Maguire - 9,388

J.J. Ward - 9,278

George R. Sweeny - 1,643

Richard Woods - 498

1912

Horatio Clarence Hocken (incumbent) - 16,904

J.O. McCarthy - 14,897

Thomas Foster - 14,462

Tommy Church (incumbent) - 12,149

Francis Stephens Spence (incumbent) - 12,003

J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 11,735

O'Donohue - 4,022

George R. Sweeny - 3,921

1911

Horatio Clarence Hocken - 22,761

Francis Stephens Spence(incumbent) - 16,187

J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 15,999

Tommy Church (incumbent) - 15,760

Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 15,540

Thomas Davies - 3,285

1910

Francis Stephens Spence - 13,879

J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 13,401

Tommy Church - 12,657

Thomas Foster - 10,841

William Spence Harrison (incumbent) - 9,946

William Peyton Hubbard - 9,498

Mark Bredin - 8,708

James Henry McGhie - 7,511

James Hales - 5,852

Albert Chamberlain - 2,730

1909

George Reginald Geary - 19,027

Horatio Clarence Hocken (incumbent) - 17,380

J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 15,782

William Spence Harrison (incumbent) - 13,509

Francis Stephens Spence (incumbent) - 12,933

William Peyton Hubbard - 11,275

Hales - 8,171

Robert Buist Noble - 1,287

James O'Hara - 779

1908

Horatio Clarence Hocken (incumbent) - 16,844

Francis Stephens Spence - 11,512

William Spence Harrison (incumbent) - 10,312

J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 10,075

William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 9,203

John Shaw - 6,385

Robert Fleming - 5,640

Oliver Sheppard - 5,099

John Dunn - 4,434

John Enoch Thompson - 1,291

James Lindala - 1,220

Hugh MacMath - 1,013

Robert Buist Noble - 745

James O'Hara - 367

Joel Marvin Briggs - 232

1907

J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 9,362

William Spence Harrison - 9,054

Horatio Clarence Hocken - 8,639

William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 8,483

Robert Fleming - 7,077

S. Alfred Jones (incumbent) - 6,710

John Shaw (incumbent) - 6,465

John Dunn - 5,038

Davies - 1,390

Joel Marvin Briggs - 496

1906

William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 14,081

S. Alfred Jones - 14,039

J.J. Ward (incumbent) - 13,770

John Shaw (incumbent) - 12,524

Hastings - 11,308

1905

Francis Stephens Spence (incumbent) - 13,032

J.J. Ward - 12,993

William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 12,880

John Shaw - 12,436

James Russell Lovett Starr - 9,823

Joseph Oliver - 8,141

Thomas Foster - 6,395

G.R. Ramsden - 5,839

Frank Moses - 5,048

A.R. Denison - 4,925

Edward Hanlan - 2,178

1904

Francis Stephens Spence - 12,294

John F. Loudon - 11,121

William Peyton Hubbard - 8,950

Fred H. Richardson - 8,923

William Burns - 8,641

James Russell Lovett Starr - 8,639

Joseph Oliver - 8,598

John Shaw - 7,184

Suburban Boards of Control

Several other municipalities in Metropolitan Toronto also created Boards of Control. Etobicoke created its Board of Control in the 1962 municipal election and North York first elected its Board of Control in the 1964 municipal election. Scarborough and York launched their boards at the 1966 election. North York, and Scarborough had 5 person boards consisting of their respective mayors and four controllers elected at large while York's board consisted of a mayor and two Controllers. East York never created a Board of Control. Etobicoke's board consisted of the reeve and two Controllers until the 1966 election when it expanded to four Controllers and the mayor.

The top two candidates from the Toronto Board of Control also sat on, Metro Toronto Council. Beginning with the 1966 municipal election, several members of suburban Boards of Control sat on Metro Council as well as their borough's council - the number depended on the number of seats on Metro Council that borough was allocated.

With the 1988 municipal election, the suburban Boards of Control were abolished and Metro Councillors were instead directly elected from special Metro Wards (consisting of two local wards).

Etobicoke

Beginning in 1966, the top three candidates for Etobicoke's Board of Control also sat on Metro Council.

Names in boldface indicate Controllers that were or became Reeve or Mayor of Etobicoke in other years. Italics indicate those who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor.

X = elected as Controller A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy M = sitting as Reeve or Mayor

Elections to the Board of Control for Etobicoke (1962-1985)
Controller19621964196619691972197419761978198019821985
John Palmer MacBethMM
Murray JohnsonXX
John CarrollXXXX
Edward Austin HortonMM
Donald RussellXX
David LaceyXXX
W. Kenneth RobinsonX
John AllenXXX
Dennis Flynn*MMMMMM
Bruce Sinclair*XXXXXX/MM
Winfield (Bill) StockwellXXXXX
E. H. (Pete) FarrowXXX
Nora PownallXXX
Morley KellsXX
Dick O'BrienXXX
Leonard BraithwaiteXX
Christopher StockwellX
Lois Griffin*AX

*Dennis Flynn resigned as mayor as a result of his appointment as Metro Chairman in August 1984. On September 4, 1984, Etobicoke City Council appointed Controller Bruce Sinclair to replace Flynn as mayor and appointed Lois Griffin to fill the Controller position vacated by Sinclair.

North York

Names in boldface indicate Controllers that were or became Mayor of North York in other years. Italics indicate those who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor. Beginning in 1966, all of North York's Controllers also sat on Metro Council.

X = elected as Controller A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy M = sitting as Reeve or Mayor

Elections to the Board of Control for North York (1964-1985)
Controller1964196619691972197419761978198019821985
James Ditson ServiceMM
G. Gordon HurlburtXX
Irving PaisleyXXX
Frank WatsonXX
Basil H. HallXXM
Paul HuntXX
Mel LastmanXMMMMMMM
John Booth*X
Paul Godfrey*AX
John WilliamsX
Alex McGivernXX
Barbara GreeneXXXXX
William Sutherland*AXXX
Joseph MarkinX
Esther Shiner**XXXXX
Ron SummersX
Robert YuillXXXXX
Norm GardnerXX
Howard MoscoeX
Mario Gentile**A

* Booth died in 1970 and was replaced by Paul Godfrey who served out the balance of his term. Godfrey was reelected in 1972, but resigned when he was elected Metro Chairman in 1973 following the death of Metro Chairman Albert Campbell. North York Council elected Alderman William Sutherland to replace Godfrey on the Board of Control on July 23, 1973.

**Shiner died on December 19, 1987. Councillor Mario Gentile was appointed to the Board of Control in February 1988 to fill Shiner's seat.

Scarborough

All of Scarborough's Controllers also sat on Metro Council.

X = elected as Controller A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy M = sitting as Mayor

Elections to the Board of Control for Scarborough (1966-1985)
Controller196619691972197419761978198019821985
Albert Campbell*M
Robert W. White*X/MM
Gus HarrisXXXXXMMMM
Brian HarrisonXXXXXXXX
Karl MalletteXXX
Ken Morrish* **AXXXX/MXX
Paul Cosgrove**MMM
Joyce Trimmer***XXXXXX
Frank Faubert** ***AXXX
Carol RuddellXXX
Bill BelfontaineX

*Albert Campbell resigned as mayor after being elected Metro Chairman on October 1, 1969. Scarborough Council appointed Robert W. White to fill the vacancy as mayor and, on October 6, 1969, appointed Alderman Ken Morrish to the Board of Control to fill White's vacant position as Controller.

**Paul Cosgrove resigned as mayor after being elected to the House of Commons of Canada in an October 16, 1978 by-election. Ken Morrish was appointed acting mayor in Cosgrove's place and Frank Faubert was appointed to the Board of Control to fill Morrish's vacated Controller position. Morrish was defeated by Gus Harris in the mayoral election a month later.

***Trimmer served as mayor from 1988 to 1993; Faubert was mayor from 1994 to 1997

York

York's two Controllers also sat on Metro Council.

Names in boldface indicate Controllers that were or became Mayor of York in other years. Italics indicate those who only sat on the Board of Control as mayor.

X = elected as Controller A = appointed Controller to fill a vacancy M = sitting as Reeve or Mayor

Elections to the Board of Control for York (1966-1985)
Controller196619691972197419761978198019821985
C. Wesley BoddingtonX
Fergy Brown*XXXX
Gayle ChristieMM
Jack MouldM
Doug SaundersXXXX
Alan TonksXXMM
James TrimbeeXXX
Philip WhiteXMMMMXXX

*Brown served as mayor from 1988 to 1994

See also

Bibliography:

  • Russell, Victor (1982). . Boston Mills Press. ISBN 0-919822-77-0.

Notes:

  • "Toronto Council Votes to Drop Board of Control." Toronto Star. December 19, 1968. pg 31
  • "Farewell Board, of Control?" Toronto Star. December 20, 1968.