Allan Sparrow
Encyclopedia
Allan Sparrow was a Canadian
political activist and long standing city councillor in Toronto
. He was instrumental in stopping the Spadina Expressway
, setting up civilian oversight of the Toronto Police, promoting cycling
in Toronto and gay rights. He was also instrumental in the cancellation of a proposed bridge to the Toronto Island Airport.
, a controversial expressway that would have been built through residential neighborhoods of central Toronto. Sparrow served on the Toronto City Council
for three terms, from 1974 until 1980 under the mayoralty of David Crombie. While at Council, he formed the Toronto Cycling Committee. He opposed the old guard of councillors whose support could be bought by developers for block-busting development of inner-city neighborhoods. He also formed the Citizens Independent Review of Police Activities, which sought to open up investigations into police misconduct. At the time, there was no civilian oversight of the police force. He gave up his council seat in an attempt to give the seat to an openly gay candidate in the 1980 election.
After his term on Council, he became an information technology consultant. He also promoted IT investment in Canada for the federal government.
He was a key player in the formation of Reform Toronto in 1988 (no connection to the national conservative Reform Party), a municipal watchdog group that published a newspaper, “The Badger”, which was distributed door-to-door to target neighbourhoods. The group endorsed seven reform-minded candidates in the 1988 municipal election of which five were elected, helping to create the first majority of reform candidates in Toronto history,. Whitney Smith
, another key member of the group, said that "Reform Toronto's success was strongly influenced by Allan's strategic thinking and encouragement of his colleagues."
In 1997 he retired as a consultant to the Toronto Islands
,and in 2001 he returned to politics as the founder of Community Air
, a volunteer association opposed to expansion of the Toronto Island Airport. The group was successful in stopping a planned bridge to the airport and Sparrow stepped down as leader of Community Air. Despite the bridge cancellation, expansion of the island airport caused him and his wife to move in 2007 to Stratford, Ontario
to move away from the airport.
He died on April 30, 2008 from colorectal cancer
in London, Ontario
. Federal NDP leader Jack Layton
praised Sparrow as "a good friend, mentor and leader" who "inspired a generation of reform-minded progressives with ahead-of-his-time thinking on environment issues."
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
political activist and long standing city councillor in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. He was instrumental in stopping the Spadina Expressway
Spadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
, setting up civilian oversight of the Toronto Police, promoting cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
in Toronto and gay rights. He was also instrumental in the cancellation of a proposed bridge to the Toronto Island Airport.
Political career
Allan Sparrow was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He moved to Toronto in 1967 with his wife Sue Sparrow. He became an activist, joining the movement to stop the Spadina ExpresswaySpadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
, a controversial expressway that would have been built through residential neighborhoods of central Toronto. Sparrow served on the Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
for three terms, from 1974 until 1980 under the mayoralty of David Crombie. While at Council, he formed the Toronto Cycling Committee. He opposed the old guard of councillors whose support could be bought by developers for block-busting development of inner-city neighborhoods. He also formed the Citizens Independent Review of Police Activities, which sought to open up investigations into police misconduct. At the time, there was no civilian oversight of the police force. He gave up his council seat in an attempt to give the seat to an openly gay candidate in the 1980 election.
After his term on Council, he became an information technology consultant. He also promoted IT investment in Canada for the federal government.
He was a key player in the formation of Reform Toronto in 1988 (no connection to the national conservative Reform Party), a municipal watchdog group that published a newspaper, “The Badger”, which was distributed door-to-door to target neighbourhoods. The group endorsed seven reform-minded candidates in the 1988 municipal election of which five were elected, helping to create the first majority of reform candidates in Toronto history,. Whitney Smith
Whitney Smith
Whitney Smith is a professional vexillologist, i.e., scholar of flags. The term vexillology, which he coined in his 1958 article Flags of the Arab World, refers to the scholarly analysis of all aspects of flags. In 1961, Smith and colleague Gerhard Grahl cofounded The Flag Bulletin, the world's...
, another key member of the group, said that "Reform Toronto's success was strongly influenced by Allan's strategic thinking and encouragement of his colleagues."
In 1997 he retired as a consultant to the Toronto Islands
Toronto Islands
The Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands in the city of Toronto, Ontario. Comprising the only group of islands in the western part of Lake Ontario, the Toronto Islands are located just offshore from the city centre, and provide shelter for Toronto Harbour...
,and in 2001 he returned to politics as the founder of Community Air
Community Air
Community Air is a non-profit resident association in the city of Toronto, Canada that seeks to have the Toronto Island Airport) shut down and its lands converted to park land. The association is concerned about noise, pollution and safety aspects of the airport's operation...
, a volunteer association opposed to expansion of the Toronto Island Airport. The group was successful in stopping a planned bridge to the airport and Sparrow stepped down as leader of Community Air. Despite the bridge cancellation, expansion of the island airport caused him and his wife to move in 2007 to Stratford, Ontario
Stratford, Ontario
Stratford is a city on the Avon River in Perth County in southwestern Ontario, Canada with a population of 32,000.When the area was first settled by Europeans in 1832, the townsite and the river were named after Stratford-upon-Avon, England. It is the seat of Perth County. Stratford was...
to move away from the airport.
He died on April 30, 2008 from colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. Federal NDP leader Jack Layton
Jack Layton
John Gilbert "Jack" Layton, PC was a Canadian social democratic politician and the Leader of the Official Opposition. He was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011, and previously sat on Toronto City Council, serving at times during that period as acting mayor and deputy mayor of...
praised Sparrow as "a good friend, mentor and leader" who "inspired a generation of reform-minded progressives with ahead-of-his-time thinking on environment issues."