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TRUE DAVIDSON
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Metropolitan Toronto Council, 1965. True Davidson is second from right in the back row. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 220, Series 65, File 283. (Beth Nealson is third from left in the second row).
Davidson in 1972, after her retirement from politics
Jean Gertrude Davidson, known throughout her life as True, moved to East York in 1947, where she became actively involved in her new community. Her energetic and enthusiastic support for enriched educational programming led to her election to the East York Board of Education in 1948, followed, in 1952, by her election as its first female Chair. In 1958 she joined the East York Township Council and was elected its first female Reeve in 1960. In 1967 she led a spirited and successful defense against amalgamation into Toronto. East York was instead merged with Leaside to form the new Borough of East York and elected her as its first Mayor. Her term in office was marked by the belief that a community's quality of life was created by the activities of its citizens, rather then buildings and public works alone. Her philosophy was shown in her ability to inspire and attract intelligent and dedicated people to serve their community, both on municipal boards and committees. A firm believer in the promotion and preservation of community culture and heritage, she founded and served as first Director of the East York Foundation and through that body created the Todmorden Mills museum as a community sponsored Centennial project in 1967. In 1969, during her final term on Council, she was elected by her peers as President of the Association of Mayors and Reeves of Ontario. True was a founding member of the Canadian Federation of University Women; she received honorary degrees from the University of Toronto and York University; was awarded the Order of Canada and the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal. However, her favorite title (given to her by the Toronto media) was that of "grandmother of East York".
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True Davidson was a ground breaking female politician, the Reeve of Leaside and then the first mayor of East York. At a time when political office was dominated by men she stood out in a strong and visible way.
True Davidson Plaque
https://www.readtheplaque.com/plaque/jean-gertrude-true-davidson-1901-1978-#gsc.tab=0 Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site |
