Esther Shiner
Encyclopedia
Esther Shiner was a municipal politician in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. She served on the North York city council from 1973 until her death, and was also a member of the Metropolitan Toronto
council. She served as North York's Deputy Mayor
in the 1980s.
. She was raised in modest circumstances, and attended the University of Toronto
for a year before marrying and becoming a homemaker
. Shiner was an active Zionist, and was a member of Hadassah
in her youth.
for North York's fourth ward in the 1972 municipal election
. Her primary issue was the Spadina Expressway
, which she wanted to extend as far as downtown Toronto. Shiner fought several battles with Premier
Bill Davis
on this issue, and unsuccessfully tried to have a city-wide plebiscite on extension in 1985. The expressway was partly extended in the 1970s, but Davis blocked any further extensions.
Shiner was elected to the North York Board of Control in 1976, and remained a member until her death. The position gave her an automatic seat on the Metropolitan Toronto Council. She served on Metro's transportation committee for several years, and was a frequent rival to fellow councillor Anne Johnston
. She was also appointed to the management board of the O'Keefe Centre for the Performing Arts in 1979, and remained a board member until 1986. Shiner supported the principle of amalgamation for Toronto's six municipal governments in 1978, on the grounds that it would yield a better transportation system.
In 1982, she helped convince North York City Council to name a street after Swedish
diplomat Raoul Wallenburg, who is credited with saving the lives of over 100,000 Hungarian
Jews in World War II
.
Shiner held conservative views on several issues. She opposed councillor Howard Moscoe
's plan for campaign donation limits in 1984, arguing that it would be unworkable. She also criticized an affirmative action
plan for North York employees, and suggested that a housing task force for the city could become an expensive waste of time. Shiner considered challenging Mel Lastman
for Mayor of North York in 1985, but declined.
She died in December 1987, at age 63. The North York City Council held a moment of silence in her honour in January 1988, and the civic square carillons played "Moon River" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", two of her favourite songs. Later in the year, the North York Civic Stadium in the Bathurst and Finch area was renamed the Esther Shiner Stadium
. Her son, David Shiner
, is a municipal politician in Toronto. A street in the Sheppard Avenue and Leslie Street area is named 'Esther Shiner Way' in her honour.
Results taken from the Globe and Mail, 14 November 1985. The final results were not significantly different.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
Results taken from the Globe and Mail, 9 November 1982.
The final results confirmed the election of Shiner, Greene, Yuill and Sutherland.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
Results taken from the Toronto Star
, 11 November 1980.
The final results confirmed the election of Shiner, Yuill, Sutherland and Gardner.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
Results taken from the Toronto Star
, 14 November 1978.
The final results confirmed the election of Greene, Shiner, Yuill and Paisley.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
Results taken from the Toronto Star
, 6 December 1976.
The final results confirmed the election of Greene, Shiner, Summers and Yuill.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
Results taken from the Toronto Star
, 3 December 1974.
The final official results were not significantly different.
Results taken from the Toronto Star
, 5 December 1972.
These results obviously do not reflect the final totals. Shiner pulled ahead of Perry when the final eighteen polls were counted, and was listed in the next day's Star as winning by twelve votes, 2,326 to 2,314.
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...
, 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....
, 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...
. She served on the North York city council from 1973 until her death, and was also a member of the 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...
council. She served as North York's Deputy Mayor
Deputy Mayor
Deputy mayor is an elective or appointive office of the second-ranking official in many local governments. Many elected deputy mayors are members of the city council who are given the title and serve as acting mayor in the mayor's absence...
in the 1980s.
Early life and career
Shiner's parents were Jewish refugees from PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. She was raised in modest circumstances, and 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...
for a year before marrying and becoming a homemaker
Homemaker
Homemaking is a mainly American term for the management of a home, otherwise known as housework, housekeeping or household management...
. Shiner was an active Zionist, and was a member of Hadassah
Hadassah
Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization of America is an American Jewish volunteer women's organization. Founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold, it is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, with around...
in her youth.
Municipal politician
Shiner was elected as an aldermanAlderman
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 North York's fourth ward in the 1972 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 1972
The 1972 Toronto municipal election was held December 4, 1972 to elect the governments of Toronto, the five other boroughs, and the government of Metro Toronto as well....
. Her primary issue was the Spadina Expressway
Spadina Expressway
The Spadina Expressway was a proposed north-south freeway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was only partially built before being cancelled in 1971 due to public opposition. It was proposed in the mid-1960s as part of a network of freeways for Metropolitan Toronto. Its cancellation prompted the...
, which she wanted to extend as far as downtown Toronto. Shiner fought several battles with Premier
Premier of Ontario
The Premier of Ontario is the first Minister of the Crown for the Canadian province of Ontario. The Premier is appointed as the province's head of government by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and presides over the Executive council, or Cabinet. The Executive Council Act The Premier of Ontario...
Bill Davis
Bill Davis
William Grenville "Bill" Davis, was the 18th Premier of Ontario, Canada, from 1971 to 1985. Davis was first elected as the MPP for Peel in the 1959 provincial election where he was a backbencher in Leslie Frost's government. Under John Robarts, he was a cabinet minister overseeing the education...
on this issue, and unsuccessfully tried to have a city-wide plebiscite on extension in 1985. The expressway was partly extended in the 1970s, but Davis blocked any further extensions.
Shiner was elected to the North York Board of Control in 1976, and remained a member until her death. The position gave her an automatic seat on the Metropolitan Toronto Council. She served on Metro's transportation committee for several years, and was a frequent rival to fellow councillor Anne Johnston
Anne Johnston
Anne Johnston was a longtime city councillor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was first elected to Toronto City Council in 1972, and served until 1985 when she ran against incumbent Mayor Art Eggleton, but was defeated. In 1988 she was elected to Metro Toronto Council...
. She was also appointed to the management board of the O'Keefe Centre for the Performing Arts in 1979, and remained a board member until 1986. Shiner supported the principle of amalgamation for Toronto's six municipal governments in 1978, on the grounds that it would yield a better transportation system.
In 1982, she helped convince North York City Council to name a street after Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
diplomat Raoul Wallenburg, who is credited with saving the lives of over 100,000 Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
Jews 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...
.
Shiner held conservative views on several issues. She opposed councillor Howard Moscoe
Howard Moscoe
Howard Moscoe was a city councillor in Toronto, Canada, representing Ward 15 in the western part of Eglinton-Lawrence. Among the most prominent and longest-serving councillors in the city, he is also known for an outspokenness which has landed him in controversy at times. Moscoe is a member of...
's plan for campaign donation limits in 1984, arguing that it would be unworkable. She also criticized an affirmative action
Affirmative action
Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination.-Origins:The term...
plan for North York employees, and suggested that a housing task force for the city could become an expensive waste of time. Shiner considered challenging Mel Lastman
Mel Lastman
Melvin Douglas "Mel" Lastman , nicknamed "Mayor Mel", is a former businessman and politician. He is the founder of the Bad Boy Furniture chain. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1972 until 1997. At the end of 1997, North York, along with five other...
for Mayor of North York in 1985, but declined.
She died in December 1987, at age 63. The North York City Council held a moment of silence in her honour in January 1988, and the civic square carillons played "Moon River" and "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", two of her favourite songs. Later in the year, the North York Civic Stadium in the Bathurst and Finch area was renamed the Esther Shiner Stadium
Esther Shiner Stadium
Esther Shiner Stadium is a multi-purpose outdoor sports facility in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in North York, on the north-west corner of Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue West...
. Her son, David Shiner
David Shiner (politician)
David Shiner is a city councillor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He represents ward 24, one of the two wards in Willowdale.-Background:He is the son of the late Esther Shiner, who served on the borough and later city council of the City of North York as alderman, and later as a member of the Board of...
, is a municipal politician in Toronto. A street in the Sheppard Avenue and Leslie Street area is named 'Esther Shiner Way' in her honour.
Sources
- "Esther Shiner: North York politician earned wide respect" (obituary notice), Globe and Mail, 21 December 1987, A19.
Electoral record
| Candidate | Total votes | % of total votes |
|---|---|---|
| (x)Esther Shiner | 67,345 | 19.47 |
| (x)Robert Yuill Robert Yuill Robert Frederick Murray Yuill was a municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He served on the North York city council for twenty-four years, at first as a ward councillor and later as a city controller. He was also a member of the Metro Toronto council.Yuill was born in Toronto, and... |
53,709 | 15.53 |
| Norman Gardner Norman Gardner Norman "Norm" Gardner is a politician and administrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a former North York and Toronto City Councillor, serving most recently as chair of the Toronto Police Services Board .-Private life and career:... |
51,137 | 14.78 |
| Howard Moscoe Howard Moscoe Howard Moscoe was a city councillor in Toronto, Canada, representing Ward 15 in the western part of Eglinton-Lawrence. Among the most prominent and longest-serving councillors in the city, he is also known for an outspokenness which has landed him in controversy at times. Moscoe is a member of... |
42,303 | 12.23 |
| Mike Foster | 35,838 | 10.36 |
| Frank Esposito | 21,365 | 6.18 |
| Bruce Davidson | 18,926 | 5.47 |
| Sonnee Cohen | 12,822 | 3.71 |
| Bernadette Michael | 12,764 | 3.69 |
| Angelo Natale | 12,416 | 3.59 |
| Cora Urbel | 7,791 | 2.25 |
| Arthur Zins | 4,961 | 1.43 |
| Ayube Ally | 4,571 | 1.32 |
| Total valid votes | 345,948 | 100.00 |
Results taken from the Globe and Mail, 14 November 1985. The final results were not significantly different.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
| Candidate | Total votes | % of total votes |
|---|---|---|
| (x)Esther Shiner | 67,673 | 19.56 |
| Barbara Greene Barbara Greene Barbara Greene is a Canadian politician. She served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1993 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. She was previously a municipal politician in North York, and campaigned for mayor of the city in 1985... |
57,948 | 16.75 |
| (x)Robert Yuill Robert Yuill Robert Frederick Murray Yuill was a municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He served on the North York city council for twenty-four years, at first as a ward councillor and later as a city controller. He was also a member of the Metro Toronto council.Yuill was born in Toronto, and... |
50,688 | 14.65 |
| (x)Bill Sutherland | 50,134 | 14.49 |
| (x)Norman Gardner Norman Gardner Norman "Norm" Gardner is a politician and administrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a former North York and Toronto City Councillor, serving most recently as chair of the Toronto Police Services Board .-Private life and career:... |
46,898 | 13.56 |
| Frank Esposito | 19,818 | 5.73 |
| Tony D'Amato | 16,629 | 4.81 |
| Bernadette Michael | 12,746 | 3.68 |
| Sonnee Cohen | 12,532 | 3.62 |
| Agostino Settecase | 5,799 | 1.68 |
| Richard Kirkup | 5,051 | 1.46 |
| Total valid votes | 345,916 | 100.00 |
Results taken from the Globe and Mail, 9 November 1982.
The final results confirmed the election of Shiner, Greene, Yuill and Sutherland.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
| Candidate | Total votes | % of total votes |
|---|---|---|
| (x)Esther Shiner | 55,986 | 19.90 |
| (x)Robert Yuill Robert Yuill Robert Frederick Murray Yuill was a municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He served on the North York city council for twenty-four years, at first as a ward councillor and later as a city controller. He was also a member of the Metro Toronto council.Yuill was born in Toronto, and... |
44,544 | 15.83 |
| Bill Sutherland | 36,562 | 12.99 |
| Norman Gardner Norman Gardner Norman "Norm" Gardner is a politician and administrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He is a former North York and Toronto City Councillor, serving most recently as chair of the Toronto Police Services Board .-Private life and career:... |
36,402 | 12.94 |
| (x)Irving Paisley | 35,590 | 12.65 |
| Jan McGivern | 25,934 | 9.22 |
| Frank Esposito | 17,643 | 6.27 |
| Donna Wilson | 17,104 | 6.08 |
| Bernadette Michael | 11,604 | 4.12 |
| Total valid votes | 281,369 | 100.00 |
Results taken from the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, 11 November 1980.
The final results confirmed the election of Shiner, Yuill, Sutherland and Gardner.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
| Candidate | Total votes | % of total votes |
|---|---|---|
| (x)Barbara Greene Barbara Greene Barbara Greene is a Canadian politician. She served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1993 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. She was previously a municipal politician in North York, and campaigned for mayor of the city in 1985... |
57,808 | 18.13 |
| (x)Esther Shiner | 55,429 | 17.39 |
| (x)Robert Yuill Robert Yuill Robert Frederick Murray Yuill was a municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He served on the North York city council for twenty-four years, at first as a ward councillor and later as a city controller. He was also a member of the Metro Toronto council.Yuill was born in Toronto, and... |
44,748 | 14.04 |
| Irving Paisley | 34,648 | 10.87 |
| (x)Ron Summers | 34,514 | 10.83 |
| Alex McGivern | 33,602 | 10.54 |
| Harvey Haber | 18,228 | 5.72 |
| Paul Wizman | 14,221 | 4.46 |
| Doreen Leitch | 9,791 | 3.07 |
| Gino Vatri | 9,729 | 3.05 |
| Sheena Suttaby | 6,049 | 1.90 |
| Total valid votes | 318,767 | 100.00 |
Results taken from the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, 14 November 1978.
The final results confirmed the election of Greene, Shiner, Yuill and Paisley.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
| Candidate | Total votes | % of total votes |
|---|---|---|
| (x)Barbara Greene Barbara Greene Barbara Greene is a Canadian politician. She served in the Canadian House of Commons from 1988 to 1993 as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. She was previously a municipal politician in North York, and campaigned for mayor of the city in 1985... |
62,918 | 22.60 |
| Esther Shiner | 48,441 | 17.40 |
| Ron Summers | 39,857 | 14.31 |
| Robert Yuill Robert Yuill Robert Frederick Murray Yuill was a municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He served on the North York city council for twenty-four years, at first as a ward councillor and later as a city controller. He was also a member of the Metro Toronto council.Yuill was born in Toronto, and... |
37,558 | 13.49 |
| (x)Alex McGivern | 36,525 | 13.12 |
| Jack Bedder | 24,706 | 8.87 |
| Bernadette Michael | 16,398 | 5.89 |
| Angelo Natale | 12,048 | 4.33 |
| Total valid votes | 278,451 | 100.00 |
Results taken from the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, 6 December 1976.
The final results confirmed the election of Greene, Shiner, Summers and Yuill.
Electors could vote for four candidates. The percentages are determined in relation to the total number of votes.
| Candidate | Total votes | % of total votes |
|---|---|---|
| (x)Esther Shiner | 4,047 | 76.20 |
| Malcolm O'Heir | 544 | 10.24 |
| Domenico Natale | 407 | 7.67 |
| Marvin Silverberg | 313 | 5.89 |
| Total valid votes | 5,311 | 100.00 |
Results taken from the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, 3 December 1974.
The final official results were not significantly different.
| Candidate | Total votes | % of total votes |
|---|---|---|
| Esther Shiner | 1,559 | 32.38 |
| David Perry | 1,732 | 35.97 |
| Irving Goldberg | 775 | 16.10 |
| Frank Granieri | 363 | 7.54 |
| Samuel Wagman | 194 | 4.03 |
| Max Gellman | 192 | 3.99 |
| Total valid votes | 4,815 | 100.00 |
Results taken from the Toronto Star
Toronto Star
The Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
, 5 December 1972.
These results obviously do not reflect the final totals. Shiner pulled ahead of Perry when the final eighteen polls were counted, and was listed in the next day's Star as winning by twelve votes, 2,326 to 2,314.