Louis Shannon
Encyclopedia
J. Louis Shannon was a municipal politician in Toronto
, Canada
who served for many years on Toronto City Council
and the Toronto Board of Control
.
Shannon was raised in Vankleek Hill
where his father was the editor of small newspaper. Shannon's father died when he was seven and the family relocated to Toronto where he studied at Oakwood Collegiate Institute
. He then went to McMaster University
where he studied law. He settled in the Rosedale
neighbourhood of the city.
He was elected to Toronto City Council in 1937 representing Ward 2. This ward covered both Shannon's own neighbourhood of Rosedale, one of the wealthiest parts of the city, and the areas along the Don River, including Cabbagetown
that were some of the poorest. Shannon was an active member of the United Church of Canada
, and was a strong advocate of Toronto's Blue Laws
, such as the ban on playing sports on Sunday. He was also committed to social welfare, and pushed at city council for a number of measures to alleviate poverty. These included child care for working mothers and health clinics in the poorer neighbourhoods. He was also one of the foremost proponents of the Regent Park
urban renewal scheme that saw much of Cabbagetown replaced by subsidized housing.
He was an active Liberal, and served as campaign manager for fellow Liberal Allan Lamport. In 1940 he unsuccessfully ran for Parliament in the riding of Rosedale, but lost to Harry Jackman
in the traditionally Tory riding.
In February 1954 Shannon suffered a heart attack and died ten days later at age 56.
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...
who served for many years on 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....
and the Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control
Toronto Board of Control was a part of the municipal government of Toronto, Canada from 1904 until its abolition in 1969 and served as the executive committee of Toronto City Council. It consisted of four councillors elected city wide and was presided over by the mayor. Each voter could vote for up...
.
Shannon was raised in Vankleek Hill
Vankleek Hill, Ontario
Vankleek Hill is a community in Champlain township in eastern Ontario, situated south of Hawkesbury on Highway 34.This agricultural based community became a thriving community in the 1890s and still retains many of the buildings and structures which were present then...
where his father was the editor of small newspaper. Shannon's father died when he was seven and the family relocated to Toronto where he studied at Oakwood Collegiate Institute
Oakwood Collegiate Institute
Oakwood Collegiate Institute is a public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.-History & Alumni:Oakwood was founded in 1908. Originally built above King Edward Public School , it has since moved to its present location at the corner of St. Clair Ave. West and Oakwood Ave...
. He then went to 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...
where he studied law. He settled in the Rosedale
Rosedale, Toronto
Rosedale is an affluent neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, which was formerly the estate of William Botsford Jarvis, and so named by his wife, granddaughter of William Dummer Powell, for the wild roses that grew there in abundance....
neighbourhood of the city.
He was elected to Toronto City Council in 1937 representing Ward 2. This ward covered both Shannon's own neighbourhood of Rosedale, one of the wealthiest parts of the city, and the areas along the Don River, including Cabbagetown
Cabbagetown, Toronto
Cabbagetown is a neighbourhood located on the east side of downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It comprises "the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in all of North America", according to the Cabbagetown Preservation Association....
that were some of the poorest. Shannon was an active member of the United Church of Canada
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
, and was a strong advocate of Toronto's Blue Laws
Blue Laws
The Blue Laws of the Colony of Connecticut, as distinct from the generic term "blue law" that refers to any laws regulating activities on Sunday, were the initial statutes set up by the Gov. Theophilus Eaton with the assistance of the Rev. John Cotton in 1655 for the Colony of New Haven, now part...
, such as the ban on playing sports on Sunday. He was also committed to social welfare, and pushed at city council for a number of measures to alleviate poverty. These included child care for working mothers and health clinics in the poorer neighbourhoods. He was also one of the foremost proponents of the Regent Park
Regent Park
Regent Park is a neighbourhood located in Old Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Regent Park is Canada's oldest and largest social housing project; built in the late 1940s. Formerly the centre of the Cabbagetown neighbourhood, it is bounded by Gerrard Street East to the north, River Street to the east,...
urban renewal scheme that saw much of Cabbagetown replaced by subsidized housing.
He was an active Liberal, and served as campaign manager for fellow Liberal Allan Lamport. In 1940 he unsuccessfully ran for Parliament in the riding of Rosedale, but lost to Harry Jackman
Harry Jackman
Henry Rutherford "Harry" Jackman, OC was a Canadian politician and successful entrepreneur. He represented the electoral district of Rosedale in the Canadian House of Commons from 1940 to 1949....
in the traditionally Tory riding.
In February 1954 Shannon suffered a heart attack and died ten days later at age 56.