Philip White (mayor)

Philip C. White (October 23, 1923 – June 8, 2013) was the mayor of the Borough and City of York, Ontario in Metropolitan Toronto from 1970 to 1978 and was the municipality's longest-serving mayor. He served on the Metropolitan Council of Toronto before the Boroughs (later called cities) were amalgamated and ran for Metro Chair, but eventually put his vote behind Paul Godfrey, which helped Godfrey win. He also served as a Metro Toronto Police Commissioner in the early 1970s.[1]

Phil White
Inauguration of Mayor Phil White
Mayor of York
In office
1970–1978
Preceded byJack Mould
Succeeded byGayle Christie
Metro Toronto Council
In office
1980–1988
Personal details
BornOctober 23rd, 1923
Toronto
DiedJune 8, 2013 (aged 90)
Toronto, Ontario
Spouse(s)Helen Strachman (1950 to 1975) Trudy Appleby (1984 - death)
Alma materUniversity of Toronto
OccupationBusiness owner. Pharmacist White's Pharmacy

White attended Harbord Collegiate Institute and the University of Toronto [2] He and his brother, Murray White, owned a community pharmacy in the Borough of York at Jane and Corbet Streets, just north of St. Clair Avenue in what was first called the Township of York (a suburb of the City of Toronto) which was annexed with the Town of Weston.

White entered politics in 1959 after the Toronto Telegram and Toronto Star newspapers released stories alleging corruption between private developers and the Reeve and Council members of the time. White was eventually approached by the Ward 3 ratepayers, who encouraged him to run against the unpopular incumbent, although he never thought about entering politics. With ratepayer support, he won the election and became the Ward 3 Councillor.

After the boroughs became cities and Reeves became mayors, councillors became known as aldermen. White served as an alderman in the borough for a decade and was eventually elected mayor in the December 1, 1969 municipal election; his term began one month later.

White is credited with facilitating "participatory democracy" by involving citizen's groups in the decision making process and supported environmental causes such as cleaning up the Humber River and preserving parkland. White was re-elected twice; first defeating Jack Mould and then Fergy Brown in 1974 and 1976 before losing to Gayle Christie in 1978. He returned to politics in 1980, when he was elected to York's Board of Control, serving until his retirement in 1988.

White died at the age of 90 of a brain hemorrhage.[3] He was also York's first Jewish mayor.[4]

The ice skating arena in Cedarvale Park is now named after him.[2]

References
  1. Family references
  2. "York's longest-serving mayor dies at 90". York Guardian. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  3. "Philip White was longest-serving mayor of then-Borough of York". Toronto Star. June 9, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
  4. "Toronto Borough of York Elects Philip White As Its First Jewish Mayor". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. December 9, 1969. Retrieved June 9, 2013.
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