William Summerville
Encyclopedia
William Arthur Summerville (died 1958) 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 theatre orchestras. He also became a locally popular song writer, with tunes like Yes, Danforth.
He settled in the east part of Toronto and became active in the theatre and real estate business. He became the owner of a small chain of theatres that presented both vaudeville shows and movies. He built structures such as the Prince of Wales Theatre at Woodbine and Danforth.
He was elected to Toronto City Council
in 1922 and to the Toronto Board of Control
in 1929. His election caused controversy when it was discovered he was on arrears on some of his municipal taxes, and was thus ineligible to run and to take his seat on the board. As a result a by-election was called. Summerville, having paid his taxes, was allowed to run and he won the seat by a considerable margin.
In 1937 he was elected as the Conservative MPP for the riding of Riverdale
. He served in the legislature until 1943 when he was defeated by Leslie Wismer
of the CCF.
Summerville's son Donald Summerville was elected to city council in 1955 and was elected mayor in 1963, but died suddenly only months after his term in office. His grandson Paul Summerville
was an NDP candidate in the 2006 federal election.
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...
.
Summerville was born in Bruce County
Bruce County, Ontario
Bruce County is a county in western Ontario, Canada, and includes the Bruce Peninsula. As of 2006, the population was 65,349. The area was . The county seat is Walkerton, Ontario. It is located at ....
and moved with his family to Toronto at age three. His first career was as a musician. He played cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
for the 48th Highlanders
48th Highlanders of Canada
The 48th Highlanders of Canada is a Canadian Forces Primary Reserve infantry regiment based in Toronto, parading out of Moss Park Armoury. The regiment is part of Land Force Central Area's 32 Canadian Brigade Group....
and toured North America with different theatre orchestras. He also became a locally popular song writer, with tunes like Yes, Danforth.
He settled in the east part of Toronto and became active in the theatre and real estate business. He became the owner of a small chain of theatres that presented both vaudeville shows and movies. He built structures such as the Prince of Wales Theatre at Woodbine and Danforth.
He was elected to 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 1922 and to 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...
in 1929. His election caused controversy when it was discovered he was on arrears on some of his municipal taxes, and was thus ineligible to run and to take his seat on the board. As a result a by-election was called. Summerville, having paid his taxes, was allowed to run and he won the seat by a considerable margin.
In 1937 he was elected as the Conservative MPP for the riding of Riverdale
Riverdale, Toronto
Riverdale is a large neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is bounded by the Don River Valley to the west, Danforth Avenue and Greektown to the north, Jones Avenue, the CN/GO tracks, and Leslieville to the east, and Lake Shore Boulevard to the south....
. He served in the legislature until 1943 when he was defeated by Leslie Wismer
Leslie Wismer
Leslie E. Wismer was a trade union official and a member of the Ontario legislature representing Riverdale, Toronto for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation from 1943 to 1945 and again from 1948 until 1951....
of the CCF.
Summerville's son Donald Summerville was elected to city council in 1955 and was elected mayor in 1963, but died suddenly only months after his term in office. His grandson 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...
was an NDP candidate in the 2006 federal election.