Awards

• Nominated for Heritage Toronto Book Award 2024 (Canada)

Overview

The first-ever look at all 65 Toronto mayors - the good, the bad, the colourful, the rogues, and the leaders - who have shaped the city. Toronto's mayoral history is both rich and colourful. Spanning 19 decades and the growth of Toronto, from its origins as a dusty colonial outpost of just 9,200 residents to a global business centre and metropolis of some three million, this compendium provides fascinating biographical detail on each of the city's mayors. Toronto's mayors have been curious, eccentric, or offbeat; others have been rebellious, swaggering, or alcoholic. Some were bigots, bullies, refugees, war heroes, social crusaders, or bon vivants; still others were inspiring, forward looking, or well ahead of their time. One Toronto mayor attempted to kill a predecessor, but his pistol jammed. Another simply beat up the councillors he didn't like. One committed murder, while another carried out a home invasion. And under the threat of capture and certain death, two mayors were forced to escape the city and live for years in exile, while another had 18 kids and cried poor, yet died on a luxury European vacation (minus the kids). One mayor was involved in the brutal torture of an opposition candidate. Another went insane while in office due to acute third stage syphilis. looks at where each came from, how they came to lead the city, what issues they dealt with, and how they steered Toronto's City Council.

Full Product Details

9781459751224

Table of Contents

Reviews

Toronto Mayors is an important and valuable contribution to the city’s political history * BARBARA HALL, former mayor of Toronto * A comprehensive look at the development of Toronto through the efforts, policies, and miscues of those who have occupied the office of mayor. * ART EGGLETON, former mayor of Toronto * Murder, treason, torture, infidelity, drug abuse — Toronto mayors have done it all.… Maloney’s masterful and lively chronicle proves what I have been trying to tell people for years — City Hall is never boring. * DAVID RIDER, Toronto Star City Hall bureau chief * Maloney’s book on the history of the mayors of Toronto is long overdue. It’s a great read! * PAUL GODFREY, former chair of Metro Toronto and Postmedia * A must read for aspiring politicians on how Toronto has evolved, and how many of today’s challenges remain unchanged over the decades. * PETER MILCZYN, former city councillor, MPP, and Ontario Minister of Housing * A treasure trove of stories, information, and history; with this book, Maloney has done our city and residents a tremendous service. * JAN DESILVA, president and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade * Who in their right mind puts their name on a ballot? Mark Maloney’s labour of love answers that question in all the colourful detail one could hope for. * CHRIS MURRAY, former Toronto city manager * An essential — and fascinating — contribution to scholarship on how one of the world’s greatest cities learned how to manage its growth. * KAREN CHAPPLE, director, School of Cities, University of Toronto * At times when we fear we may have reached a low ebb in civic life, a book like this reminds us that extraordinary efforts can yield extraordinary results. Toronto continues to be a remarkable work-in-progress, and I hope readers — now reflecting the richly diverse resident base that is Toronto this century, will be inspired to encourage the next generation of leaders to step into the ring of civic leadership. * MARY ROWE, President/CEO, Canadian Urban Institute * Toronto Mayors offers great insights and captivating stories about how the Toronto we know has been influenced by the varied and complex cast who have played this part. * KEN GREENBERG, award-winning urban planner *

Toronto Mayors is an important and valuable contribution to the city’s political history * BARBARA HALL, former mayor of Toronto * A comprehensive look at the development of Toronto through the efforts, policies, and miscues of those who have occupied the office of mayor. * ART EGGLETON, former mayor of Toronto * Murder, treason, torture, infidelity, drug abuse — Toronto mayors have done it all.… Maloney’s masterful and lively chronicle proves what I have been trying to tell people for years — City Hall is never boring. * DAVID RIDER, Toronto Star City Hall bureau chief * Maloney’s book on the history of the mayors of Toronto is long overdue. It’s a great read! * PAUL GODFREY, former chair of Metro Toronto and Postmedia * A must read for aspiring politicians on how Toronto has evolved, and how many of today’s challenges remain unchanged over the decades. * PETER MILCZYN, former city councillor, MPP, and Ontario Minister of Housing * A treasure trove of stories, information, and history; with this book, Maloney has done our city and residents a tremendous service. * JAN DE SILVA, president and CEO, Toronto Region Board of Trade * Who in their right mind puts their name on a ballot? Mark Maloney’s labour of love answers that question in all the colourful detail one could hope for. * CHRIS MURRAY, former Toronto city manager * An essential — and fascinating — contribution to scholarship on how one of the world’s greatest cities learned how to manage its growth. * KAREN CHAPPLE, director, School of Cities, University of Toronto * At times when we fear we may have reached a low ebb in civic life, a book like this reminds us that extraordinary efforts can yield extraordinary results. Toronto continues to be a remarkable work-in-progress, and I hope readers — now reflecting the richly diverse resident base that is Toronto this century, will be inspired to encourage the next generation of leaders to step into the ring of civic leadership. * MARY ROWE, President/CEO, Canadian Urban Institute * Toronto Mayors offers great insights and captivating stories about how the Toronto we know has been influenced by the varied and complex cast who have played this part. * KEN GREENBERG, award-winning urban planner *

Author Information

Mark Maloney is a government relations professional specializing in the City of Toronto. He has worked full-time with three Toronto mayors - Barbara Hall, Mel Lastman, and John Tory - serving on either their mayoral campaign or at City Hall. Mark headed the initial bids that obtained the 2002 World Youth Days event, which remains the largest multi-day conference in Toronto history. He later served as coordinator of the Greater Toronto Area Economic Summit, a GTA-wide initiative to chart the region's future. Mark has been a municipal reporter with the former CHUM Radio Network and assignment desk researcher with CTV News in Ottawa. He also chaired the Ottawa region's Board of Health and served for eight years as a member of Ottawa City Council. Mark has served on the boards of Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and the federal Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction. He recently served as secretary of Toronto's bid for the Expo 2025 World's Fair. Mark lives in Toronto.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available