1919 Toronto municipal election explained

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 1, 1919. Mayor Tommy Church was elected to his fifth consecutive term in office. This election marked the creation of Ward 8, covering the recently annexed areas of East Toronto. The representation of Ward 7 was also increased to have three alderman like every other ward.

Toronto mayor

Church had first been elected mayor in 1915 and had been reelected every year since. He was opposed by several credible opponents, most notably by Controller John O'Neill who was trying to become the first Roman Catholic to be elected mayor of Toronto. Two other prominent candidates also ran, but failed to win much support. MP and future mayor Thomas Foster and former controller William Henry Shaw.

Results

Tommy Church (incumbent) - 26,020

John O'Neill - 16,230

William Henry Shaw - 3,772

Thomas Foster - 2,180

Board of Control

O'Neill's decision to run for mayor opened one vacancy on the Board of Control. It was filled by former Controller R.H. Cameron who had run unsuccessfully for mayor the year previous.

Results

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

City council

Ward 1 (Riverdale)

Frank Marsden Johnson (incumbent) - 3,559

Richard Honeyford (incumbent) - 3,555

W. W. Hiltz (incumbent) - 3,533

William Feawick - 2,478

Arthur J. Stubbings - 1,623

Ward 2 (Cabbagetown and Rosedale)

J.R. Beamish (incumbent) - 2,997

John Winnett - 2,582

Herbert Henry Ball (incumbent) - 2,401

Charles A. Risk (incumbent) - 2,060

Joseph Kent - 866

Ward 3 (Central Business District and The Ward)

J. George Ramsden (incumbent) - 3,113

F.W. Johnston (incumbent) - 1,886

Charles W. Mugridge - 1,687

William Harper - 1,463

Ward 4 (Kensington Market and Garment District)

Arthur Russell Nesbitt (incumbent) - 3,644

John Cowan (incumbent) - 2,448

John C. McMulkin (incumbent) - 3,349

Harry Winberg - 1,862

William Brant - 614

Ward 5 (Trinity-Bellwoods)

R.H. Graham (incumbent) - 3,908

W.R. Plewman (incumbent) - 3,185

Clifford Blackburn (incumbent) - 2,853

Angus Beaton - 2,371

James Phinnemore - 1,249

James Coughlin - 1,159

Thomas Ballentyne - 919

Ward 6 (Brockton and Parkdale)

D.C. MacGregor - 5,113

George Birdsall (incumbent) - 4,225

Brook Sykes (incumbent) - 4,098

James M.H. Ballantyne - 2,710

Michael Manley - 1,624

Alex Williamson - 1,360

Alvin L. Gadsby - 869

Richard Holmes - 916

Ward 7 (West Toronto Junction)

Samuel Ryding (incumbent) - 1,435

William Maher - 1,359

Frank Whetter - 1,352

Alexander Chisholm - 1,146

Robert Agnew - 1,095

Ward 8 (East Toronto)

William Williamson - 1,747

William M. Miskelly - 1,548

Frederick Baker - 1,483

Walter Brown - 1,202

John Lennox - 766

Alfred Dunnett - 567

William Ford - 558

Results taken from the January 1, 1920 Toronto Daily Star and might not exactly match final tallies.

References

Election Coverage. Toronto Star. January 1, 1919