Dennis Flynn
Encyclopedia
Christopher Dennis Flynn O.Ont
, (December 17, 1923 - August 19, 2003) was Chairman
of Metropolitan Toronto
from 1984 to 1988. Flynn rarely used his first name and was commonly known as Dennis Flynn.
, Ireland
to the O'Flynn family, the family immigrated to Canada while he was a child. He had two brothers Patrick and John, and two sisters, Eileen and Mary. Eventually the family dropped the O honorific and became known simply as Flynn. Flynn's older brother Patrick Flynn
was a Member of Parliament from 1974 to 1979. Dennis married Margaret (née Courtney) and they had seven children.
He enlisted in the Toronto Scottish Regiment in 1938 and was in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
in World War II
. He saw action during the D-Day
landings and was wounded twice. He walked with a limp due to these injuries. He attended the University of Toronto
in 1947. After graduating, he joined the City of Toronto's clerk's department and rose to the position of protocol officer (public relations director).
In 2003, Flynn's son, Tim, ran unsuccessfully in Ward 25 (Don Valley West) for a seat on Toronto City Council.
of Etobicoke
in 1969, but succeeded in 1972. He was mayor of Etobicoke from 1972 until 1984 when he succeeded Paul Godfrey
as Metro Chairman. He held that position until 1988. In 1988, Alan Tonks
contested Flynn's position and defeated him in a vote held by Metro Council to become Metro Chairman. In the 1988 municipal election, he ran successfully for Metro Council in the ward of Kingsway-Humber ward. Flynn remained as Metro Councillor until 1997. He ran for a seat on the newly-amalgamated Toronto City Council
in 1997, but finished third behind Gloria Lindsay Luby
and Mario Giansante.
for his distinguished record of public service.
Flynn was the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Toronto Scottish Regiment (The Queen Mother
's Own). In 2003, while visiting the regiment at CFB Petawawa
in Pembroke, Ontario
, he suffered a heart attack
and died. He was 79.
Order of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
, (December 17, 1923 - August 19, 2003) was Chairman
Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
The Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto or Metro Chairman was the leader of Metropolitan Toronto, Canada, and the most senior political figure in the municipality. The Metro Chairman was elected by the members of Metropolitan Toronto Council.-New Level of Government:The position...
of Metropolitan Toronto
Metropolitan Toronto
The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto was a senior level of municipal government in the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area from 1954 to 1998. It was created out of York County and was a precursor to the later concept of a regional municipality, being formed of smaller municipalities but having more...
from 1984 to 1988. Flynn rarely used his first name and was commonly known as Dennis Flynn.
Background
Born in Rathcormac, County CorkCounty Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
to the O'Flynn family, the family immigrated to Canada while he was a child. He had two brothers Patrick and John, and two sisters, Eileen and Mary. Eventually the family dropped the O honorific and became known simply as Flynn. Flynn's older brother Patrick Flynn
Patrick Flynn (Canadian politician)
Patrick Joseph Flynn was an Irish-born Canadian politician. He served as a Liberal Member of Parliament representing Kitchener, Ontario from 1974 until 1979. His younger brother Dennis Flynn was also active in Canadian politics.Flynn was born Patrick Joseph "Joe" O'Flynn in Rathcormac, County...
was a Member of Parliament from 1974 to 1979. Dennis married Margaret (née Courtney) and they had seven children.
He enlisted in the Toronto Scottish Regiment in 1938 and was in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
1st Canadian Parachute Battalion
The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was formed in July 1942 during the Second World War; it served in North West Europe. Landing in Normandy on D Day, June 6, 1944 and in the airborne assault crossing of the River Rhine, Operation Varsity...
in 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 saw action during the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings and was wounded twice. He walked with a limp due to these injuries. He attended the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
in 1947. After graduating, he joined the City of Toronto's clerk's department and rose to the position of protocol officer (public relations director).
In 2003, Flynn's son, Tim, ran unsuccessfully in Ward 25 (Don Valley West) for a seat on Toronto City Council.
Politics
He was unsuccessful in his first attempt to be elected mayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Etobicoke
Etobicoke, Ontario
Etobicoke is a dissolved municipality located within the current city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Comprising the western section of the current city, it had an official population of 338,117 as measured by the 2001 Census and 334,491 people as of the 2006 Census. While it only contains 13% of...
in 1969, but succeeded in 1972. He was mayor of Etobicoke from 1972 until 1984 when he succeeded Paul Godfrey
Paul Godfrey
Paul Victor Godfrey, CM, OOnt is a businessman and former Canadian politician. During his career, Godfrey was a North York alderman, Chairman of Metro Toronto, President of the Toronto Sun and head of the Toronto Blue Jays. He was instrumental in bringing the Toronto Blue Jays to Toronto and has...
as Metro Chairman. He held that position until 1988. In 1988, Alan Tonks
Alan Tonks
Alan Tonks is a Canadian politician. He was the Liberal MP for the federal electoral district of York South—Weston in Toronto from 2000 to 2011, and was the final Metro Toronto Chairman before the amalgamation of Metro Toronto into the new City of Toronto.-Background:Tonks is the son of the late...
contested Flynn's position and defeated him in a vote held by Metro Council to become Metro Chairman. In the 1988 municipal election, he ran successfully for Metro Council in the ward of Kingsway-Humber ward. Flynn remained as Metro Councillor until 1997. He ran for a seat on the newly-amalgamated 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....
in 1997, but finished third behind Gloria Lindsay Luby
Gloria Lindsay Luby
Gloria Lindsay Luby is a city councillor and former Deputy Speaker of Toronto City Council in Toronto, Canada for Ward 4 Etobicoke Centre. She represents one of the two Etobicoke Centre wards. Lindsay Luby is also a former Chair of the Government Management Committee.Lindsay Luby was a successful...
and Mario Giansante.
Later life
In 2001, he was awarded the Order of OntarioOrder of Ontario
The Order of Ontario is the most prestigious official honour in the Canadian province of Ontario. Instituted in 1986 by Lieutenant Governor Lincoln Alexander, on the advice of the Cabinet under Premier David Peterson, the civilian order is administered by the Governor-in-Council and is intended to...
for his distinguished record of public service.
Flynn was the Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Toronto Scottish Regiment (The Queen Mother
Queen mother
Queen Mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort whose son or daughter from that marriage is the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since at least 1577...
's Own). In 2003, while visiting the regiment at CFB Petawawa
CFB Petawawa
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, commonly referred to as CFB Petawawa, or simply "Pet", is a Canadian Forces Base located in Petawawa, Ontario. It is operated as an army base by Canadian Forces Land Force Command.-Base facts:...
in Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke, Ontario
Pembroke is a city in the province of Ontario, Canada, at the confluence of the Muskrat River and the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
, he suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
and died. He was 79.