Charles Bowen (Ontario politician)
Encyclopedia
Charles R. Bowen was a politician in the Canadian
province of Ontario
. He served as mayor
of Brantford from 1973 to 1980.
Bowen was born in Oshawa
and served in the Canadian army for five years during World War II
. He graduated from the Canadian Institute of Science and Technology as a mechanical engineer. Bowen later received a Theology
degree from McMaster University
in 1977 and was ordained at the city's First Baptist
Church later in the year.
Bowen first ran for municipal office in Brantford in 1958 and was first elected to council in 1963, when he won a seat in Brantford's fifth ward. He served as a councillor until being elected as mayor of Brantford in the 1972 municipal election
. He was re-elected in 1974
, 1976
, and 1978
.
Bowen and alderman William Tovell were sued by the Boston Pops Orchestra
in 1978, following non-payment for an August 1978 concert to raise money for Brantford's Capital Theatre. The business manager for Boston Pops charged that Bowen had guaranteed on the night of the concert that the sixty thousand dollar fee would be guaranteed by the city. Bowen denied that he had made this promise, and his claim was supported the city solicitor. The case was settled out of court in 1981. Arthur Kelly Jr., the son of the concert organizer, later wrote that Bowen had promised the money would be paid after overhearing a conversation between his father and the orchestra's business manager. Kelly added that the Pops was aware of the concert's shaky financial status and asserted that "if Bowen had kept his mouth shut [...] there would have been no lawsuit."
Bowen was defeated by challenger Dave Neumann
in 1980
. He was re-elected to council in 1988
and served another three-year term before being defeated in 1991. He died the following year.
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...
province of Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He served as mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Brantford from 1973 to 1980.
Bowen was born in Oshawa
Oshawa
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
and served in the Canadian army for five years during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He graduated from the Canadian Institute of Science and Technology as a mechanical engineer. Bowen later received a Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
degree from McMaster University
McMaster University
McMaster University is a public research university whose main campus is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The main campus is located on of land in the residential neighbourhood of Westdale, adjacent to Hamilton's Royal Botanical Gardens...
in 1977 and was ordained at the city's First Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
Church later in the year.
Bowen first ran for municipal office in Brantford in 1958 and was first elected to council in 1963, when he won a seat in Brantford's fifth ward. He served as a councillor until being elected as mayor of Brantford in the 1972 municipal election
Brantford municipal election, 1972
The 1972 Brantford municipal election was held on December 4, 1972, to elect a mayor, councillors, school trustees, and public utility commissioners in the city of Brantford, Ontario, Canada.Charles Bowen was elected to his first term as mayor.-Results:...
. He was re-elected in 1974
Brantford municipal election, 1974
The 1974 Brantford municipal election took place on December 2, 1974, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada...
, 1976
Brantford municipal election, 1976
The 1976 Brantford municipal election was held on December 6, 1976, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada...
, and 1978
Brantford municipal election, 1978
The 1978 Brantford municipal election was held on November 13, 1978, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada...
.
Bowen and alderman William Tovell were sued by the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
in 1978, following non-payment for an August 1978 concert to raise money for Brantford's Capital Theatre. The business manager for Boston Pops charged that Bowen had guaranteed on the night of the concert that the sixty thousand dollar fee would be guaranteed by the city. Bowen denied that he had made this promise, and his claim was supported the city solicitor. The case was settled out of court in 1981. Arthur Kelly Jr., the son of the concert organizer, later wrote that Bowen had promised the money would be paid after overhearing a conversation between his father and the orchestra's business manager. Kelly added that the Pops was aware of the concert's shaky financial status and asserted that "if Bowen had kept his mouth shut [...] there would have been no lawsuit."
Bowen was defeated by challenger Dave Neumann
Dave Neumann
David Emil Neumann is a politician in the Canadian province of Ontario. He was the mayor of Brantford from 1980 to 1987 and served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990...
in 1980
Brantford municipal election, 1980
The 1980 Brantford municipal election was held on November 10, 1980, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada...
. He was re-elected to council in 1988
Brantford municipal election, 1988
The 1988 Brantford municipal election was held on November 14, 1988, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Elections were also held in the rural and small-town communities around the city.-Results:...
and served another three-year term before being defeated in 1991. He died the following year.
External links
- Mayors of Brantford, Brantford Public Library