Donald Dean Summerville
Encyclopedia
Donald Dean Summerville (1915 – November 19, 1963) was an east-end municipal politician in Toronto
, Canada
, and served as Mayor of Toronto, briefly, until his death.
Summerville was born in Toronto to William Summerville and Alberta White. He had an older brother, Ross, who died as an infant in 1910.
Summerville served as a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force
during World War II
, and is reputed to have bombed the Canadian National Exhibition
grounds in Toronto by mistake during training. He was first elected to city council in 1955 as the alderman
for an east-end Toronto ward in the Beaches
neighbourhood. He was elected mayor in 1963.
Mayor Summerville suffered a fatal heart attack while playing in a charity hockey tournament at George Bell Arena in the City's west end. Because of municipal boundary guidelines the nearest ambulance, operated by the York Township
Fire Department and only a mile away, was never called. Instead, a city ambulance was dispatched from over ten miles away, and the Mayor died waiting for aid. His death led to the creation of the Department of Emergency Services and the amalgamation of Metropolitan Toronto
's various local ambulance services.
Summerville's father, William Summerville
had been a city councillor and Conservative
Member of Provincial Parliament for Riverdale from 1937 to 1943. His widow, Alice Summerville, was elected alderman, in her own right, representing the Beaches from 1964 until 1970. His great-nephew, Paul Summerville
, is an economist and was the New Democratic Party
's nominee in St. Paul's
for the 2006 federal election
but subsequently joined the Liberal Party of Canada
.
The Donald D. Summerville outdoor Olympic-sized pool (located at Woodbine Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East in The Beaches
) and the annual Donald Summerville Yacht Race, hosted by Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club, are named after him.
Summerville is buried in family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, 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...
, Canada
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...
, and served as Mayor of Toronto, briefly, until his death.
Summerville was born in Toronto to William Summerville and Alberta White. He had an older brother, Ross, who died as an infant in 1910.
Summerville served as a pilot for the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
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...
, and is reputed to have bombed the Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
grounds in Toronto by mistake during training. He was first elected to city council in 1955 as the alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
for an east-end Toronto ward in the Beaches
The Beaches
The Beaches is a neighbourhood and popular tourist destination located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the east side of the "Old" City of Toronto. The original boundaries of the neighbourhood are from Fallingbrook Avenue on the east to Kingston Road on the north, to Woodbine Avenue...
neighbourhood. He was elected mayor in 1963.
Mayor Summerville suffered a fatal heart attack while playing in a charity hockey tournament at George Bell Arena in the City's west end. Because of municipal boundary guidelines the nearest ambulance, operated by the York Township
York, Ontario
York is a dissolved municipality in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it is located northwest of Old Toronto, southwest of North York and east of Etobicoke, where it is bounded by the Humber River. Formerly a separate city, it was one of six municipalities that amalgamated in 1998 to form...
Fire Department and only a mile away, was never called. Instead, a city ambulance was dispatched from over ten miles away, and the Mayor died waiting for aid. His death led to the creation of the Department of Emergency Services and the amalgamation 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...
's various local ambulance services.
Summerville's father, William Summerville
William Summerville
William Arthur Summerville was a municipal and provincial politician in Toronto, Canada.Summerville was born in Bruce County and moved with his family to Toronto at age three. His first career was as a musician. He played cornet for the 48th Highlanders and toured North America with different...
had been a city councillor and Conservative
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
Member of Provincial Parliament for Riverdale from 1937 to 1943. His widow, Alice Summerville, was elected alderman, in her own right, representing the Beaches from 1964 until 1970. His great-nephew, Paul Summerville
Paul Summerville
Paul Summerville is an economist, equity research director, and Asian regional head at several prominent global investment banks , and Wellington Management...
, is an economist and was the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
's nominee in St. Paul's
St. Paul's
St. Paul's is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1935. It is also the name of the two municipal wards and the local Toronto District School Board ward St. Paul's is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that...
for the 2006 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2006
The 2006 Canadian federal election was held on January 23, 2006, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 39th Parliament of Canada. The Conservative Party of Canada won the greatest number of seats: 40.3% of seats, or 124 out of 308, up from 99 seats in 2004, and 36.3% of votes:...
but subsequently joined the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
.
The Donald D. Summerville outdoor Olympic-sized pool (located at Woodbine Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East in The Beaches
The Beaches
The Beaches is a neighbourhood and popular tourist destination located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the east side of the "Old" City of Toronto. The original boundaries of the neighbourhood are from Fallingbrook Avenue on the east to Kingston Road on the north, to Woodbine Avenue...
) and the annual Donald Summerville Yacht Race, hosted by Ashbridge's Bay Yacht Club, are named after him.
Summerville is buried in family plot at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a cemetery located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the city of Toronto were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England...
.