John Sewell
Encyclopedia
John Sewell, CM
(born 1940) is a Canadian political activist and writer on municipal affairs; he was the mayor
of Toronto
, Ontario
from 1978 to 1980.
neighbourhood, in Toronto, Sewell attended Malvern Collegiate Institute
and the University of Toronto
from which he graduated with an English Literature degree in 1961. He earned a law degree from the University of Toronto Law School in 1964 and was called to the bar in 1966.
Urban Renewal Area in the fight against the expropriation and levelling of the working class and poor neighbourhood. Sewell was also involved in opposing to the building of the Spadina Expressway
in the late 1969s and early 1970s. He was first elected to Toronto City Council
in 1969 as alderman for Ward 7, a predominantly working class area including St. Jamestown, Regent Park
, Don Vale, and Cabbagetown
. He also initiated the founding of a community-owned newspaper, Seven News, seen as an alternative to Toronto's corporate-owned daily papers. Sewell went on to become the leader of city council's reform wing. He was elected Mayor of Toronto in 1978. In the 1978 election
, the right-wing vote was split between two mayoral candidates, David Paul Smith
and Tony O'Donohue
. Sewell was able to win the election with less than 50 percent of the vote as he garnered 71,305 votes, while O'Donohue received 62,173 and Smith receiving 45,071.
at a time when wearing denim was still considered an identifier of the counterculture
. As an environmentalist famous for riding his bicycle to council, he opposed the development of banking and convention centres in the central business district
that would become the hallmark of the mayors who followed. Sewell also established himself as a leading critic of the Toronto Police, demanding greater accountability to the public, and was a leading defender of gay rights, endorsing gay rights activist George Hislop
's 1980 candidacy for city council
, at a time when it was rare for public figures to express support for same-sex rights.
In the 1980 election
, after two years of controversy, pro-development Conservatives and Liberals united behind the candidacy of Art Eggleton
. Although Sewell maintained the support of many Red Tories
, reform Liberals and New Democrats
and won more votes and a larger share of the vote than in 1978, he lost the mayor's office to Eggleton.
in a by-election
and won re-election in 1982. He retired from municipal politics in 1984 to accept a job as a columnist at the Globe and Mail. He subsequently moved to Now Magazine
, then wrote a regular column in Toronto's eye weekly
from 1999 to 2005. He has written a number of books and articles on Toronto urban issues.
Sewell served as chair of the Toronto public housing
authority from 1986 to 1988 and is an acknowledged urban affairs expert. He has served as chair of the Royal Commission
on Planning and Development Reform in Ontario from 1991 to 1993. Sewell was an advisor to East London, South Africa
's city council from 1994 to 1999 and as advisor on the re-establishment of local government in Malawi
in 2000. Sewell also taught law, politics and social science at York University
from 1989 to 1991.
In the late 1990s, Sewell founded the group Citizens for Local Democracy to fight the plans of the provincial Mike Harris
government to abolish Metropolitan Toronto
and amalgamate its constituent parts into a new City of Toronto "megacity".
In the 1999 Ontario provincial election
, Sewell ran as an independent candidate in the riding of Toronto Centre--Rosedale, challenging Progressive Conservative
cabinet minister Al Leach to protest the megacity. His entry into the race was controversial, with many activists accusing him of splitting the left-wing vote with the New Democratic Party
(NDP). Sewell was also criticized for remaining in the race after Leach, whom he had personally targeted as the minister responsible for amalgamation, withdrew from the contest. The riding was ultimately won by Liberal George Smitherman
; Sewell finished third, behind Tory Durhane Wong-Rieger
.
In 2005, Sewell was made a member of the Order of Canada. Sewell lives with his wife, Liz Rykert in Toronto.
On June 26, 2006, Sewell announced that he would seek election in Ward 21 running against Joe Mihevc
in Toronto's 2006 municipal election
. Sewell said that he was motivated to run due to the construction of a streetcar right-of-way along St. Clair Avenue
that was supported by Mihevc. He also stated that he was disappointed at the record of Mayor David Miller. "Living in a megacity demands more citizen participation and community consultation, not less," says Sewell. While his candidacy received much publicity in the local media, he was defeated by Mihevc. Sewell received a 3326 votes compared to Mihevc's 8096.
Sewell, a former resident of Riverdale
, resides in Ward 21 and has his law office on Beverley Street. He is active in the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition. In November 2008, Sewell was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
. He received chemotherapy and as of November 2009, the cancer is in remission.
and historical defense of William Lyon Mackenzie
, the first mayor of Toronto and leader of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(born 1940) is a Canadian political activist and writer on municipal affairs; he was the mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of 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...
, 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....
from 1978 to 1980.
Background
Raised in the BeachesThe 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, in Toronto, Sewell attended Malvern Collegiate Institute
Malvern Collegiate Institute
Malvern Collegiate Institute is a Toronto high school that was founded in 1903 as "East Toronto High School", in what was then the village of East Toronto...
and 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...
from which he graduated with an English Literature degree in 1961. He earned a law degree from the University of Toronto Law School in 1964 and was called to the bar in 1966.
Municipal politics
Sewell first became active in city politics in 1966 when he joined the residents of the Trefann CourtTrefann Court
Trefann Court is a small neighbourhood in the eastern part of downtown Toronto, Canada. It is located on the north side of Queen Street between Parliament Street and River Street. It extends north only a short distance to Shuter St. In the nineteenth century Trefann Court was considered a part of...
Urban Renewal Area in the fight against the expropriation and levelling of the working class and poor neighbourhood. Sewell was also involved in opposing to the building of 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...
in the late 1969s and early 1970s. He was first 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 1969 as alderman for Ward 7, a predominantly working class area including St. Jamestown, 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,...
, Don Vale, and 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....
. He also initiated the founding of a community-owned newspaper, Seven News, seen as an alternative to Toronto's corporate-owned daily papers. Sewell went on to become the leader of city council's reform wing. He was elected Mayor of Toronto in 1978. In the 1978 election
Toronto municipal election, 1978
The Toronto municipal election of 1978 held on Monday, November 13, 1978, was the first seriously contested mayoralty race in Toronto, Canada, since David Crombie took office in the 1972 election...
, the right-wing vote was split between two mayoral candidates, David Paul Smith
David Paul Smith
David Paul Smith, PC, QC is a Canadian lawyer, politician and Senator.Smith was an alderman on Toronto City Council in the 1970s. He served a period as deputy mayor and president of city council. He ran for Mayor of Toronto in 1978, but was defeated by John Sewell in a three-way split...
and Tony O'Donohue
Tony O'Donohue
Anthony "Tony" O'Donohue is a former municipal politician in Toronto, Ontario.-Early life:Born in The Burren, County Clare, Ireland , O'Donohue graduated as a civil engineer from University College, Galway in 1954...
. Sewell was able to win the election with less than 50 percent of the vote as he garnered 71,305 votes, while O'Donohue received 62,173 and Smith receiving 45,071.
Mayor of Toronto
Sewell was portrayed as a radical in the media and was dubbed "Mayor Blue Jeans" by the Toronto SunToronto Sun
The Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
at a time when wearing denim was still considered an identifier of the counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
. As an environmentalist famous for riding his bicycle to council, he opposed the development of banking and convention centres in the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
that would become the hallmark of the mayors who followed. Sewell also established himself as a leading critic of the Toronto Police, demanding greater accountability to the public, and was a leading defender of gay rights, endorsing gay rights activist George Hislop
George Hislop
George Hislop was one of Canada's most influential gay activists. He was the first openly gay candidate for municipal office in Canada, as well as the first openly gay candidate for any political office in Ontario , and was a key figure in the early development of Toronto's gay...
's 1980 candidacy for city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
, at a time when it was rare for public figures to express support for same-sex rights.
In the 1980 election
Toronto municipal election, 1980
The 1980 Toronto municipal election was held on November 10, 1980 in Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mayors, controllers, city councillors and school board trustees were elected in the municipalities of Toronto, York, East York, North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough.Art Eggleton narrowly...
, after two years of controversy, pro-development Conservatives and Liberals united behind the candidacy of Art Eggleton
Art Eggleton
Arthur "Art" C. Eggleton, PC is a former Canadian Cabinet minister and Mayor of Toronto, and is currently a Senator representing Ontario.-City council:...
. Although Sewell maintained the support of many Red Tories
Red Tory
A red Tory is an adherent of a particular political philosophy, tradition, and disposition in Canada somewhat similar to the High Tory tradition in the United Kingdom; it is contrasted with "blue Tory". In Canada, the phenomenon of "red toryism" has fundamentally, if not exclusively, been found in...
, reform Liberals and New Democrats
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...
and won more votes and a larger share of the vote than in 1978, he lost the mayor's office to Eggleton.
Later life
Sewell subsequently returned to city council 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...
in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
and won re-election in 1982. He retired from municipal politics in 1984 to accept a job as a columnist at the Globe and Mail. He subsequently moved to Now Magazine
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
, then wrote a regular column in Toronto's eye weekly
Eye Weekly
Eye Weekly was a free weekly newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was owned by Torstar, the parent company of the Toronto Star, and was published by their Star Media Group until its final issue on May 5, 2011. The following week, Torstar launched a successor publication, The Grid.-...
from 1999 to 2005. He has written a number of books and articles on Toronto urban issues.
Sewell served as chair of the Toronto public housing
Public housing
Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local. Social housing is an umbrella term referring to rental housing which may be owned and managed by the state, by non-profit organizations, or by a combination of the...
authority from 1986 to 1988 and is an acknowledged urban affairs expert. He has served as chair of the Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on Planning and Development Reform in Ontario from 1991 to 1993. Sewell was an advisor to East London, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's city council from 1994 to 1999 and as advisor on the re-establishment of local government in Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
in 2000. Sewell also taught law, politics and social science at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
from 1989 to 1991.
In the late 1990s, Sewell founded the group Citizens for Local Democracy to fight the plans of the provincial Mike Harris
Mike Harris
Michael Deane "Mike" Harris was the 22nd Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. He is most noted for the "Common Sense Revolution", his Progressive Conservative government's program of deficit reduction in combination with lower taxes and cuts to government...
government to abolish 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...
and amalgamate its constituent parts into a new City of Toronto "megacity".
In the 1999 Ontario provincial election
Ontario general election, 1999
An Ontario general election was held on June 3, 1999, to elect members of the 37th Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, Sewell ran as an independent candidate in the riding of Toronto Centre--Rosedale, challenging Progressive 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...
cabinet minister Al Leach to protest the megacity. His entry into the race was controversial, with many activists accusing him of splitting the left-wing vote with 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...
(NDP). Sewell was also criticized for remaining in the race after Leach, whom he had personally targeted as the minister responsible for amalgamation, withdrew from the contest. The riding was ultimately won by Liberal George Smitherman
George Smitherman
George Smitherman is a Canadian politician and broadcaster. He represented the provincial riding of Toronto Centre in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1999 to 2010, when he resigned to contest the mayoralty of Toronto in the 2010 municipal election...
; Sewell finished third, behind Tory Durhane Wong-Rieger
Durhane Wong-Rieger
Durhane Wong-Rieger is a Chinese-born, American-raised , Canadian with a Ph.D. in psychology. She is best known for her role as an advocate of patients who contracted diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C from tainted blood transfusions, in particular from the Health Management Associates...
.
In 2005, Sewell was made a member of the Order of Canada. Sewell lives with his wife, Liz Rykert in Toronto.
On June 26, 2006, Sewell announced that he would seek election in Ward 21 running against Joe Mihevc
Joe Mihevc
Joe Mihevc is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada. He represents one of the two St. Paul's wards, Ward 21 St. Paul's.-Background:...
in Toronto's 2006 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Toronto municipal election took place on 13 November 2006 to elect a mayor and 44 city councillors in Toronto, Ontario. In addition, school trustees were elected to the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest...
. Sewell said that he was motivated to run due to the construction of a streetcar right-of-way along St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue
St. Clair Avenue is a major east-west street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was laid out in the late 18th century by the British as a concession road , north of Bloor Street and north of Queen Street....
that was supported by Mihevc. He also stated that he was disappointed at the record of Mayor David Miller. "Living in a megacity demands more citizen participation and community consultation, not less," says Sewell. While his candidacy received much publicity in the local media, he was defeated by Mihevc. Sewell received a 3326 votes compared to Mihevc's 8096.
Sewell, a former resident 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....
, resides in Ward 21 and has his law office on Beverley Street. He is active in the Toronto Police Accountability Coalition. In November 2008, Sewell was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of blood cancers that include any kind of lymphoma except Hodgkin's lymphomas. Types of NHL vary significantly in their severity, from indolent to very aggressive....
. He received chemotherapy and as of November 2009, the cancer is in remission.
Election results
| 2006 Toronto election Toronto municipal election, 2006 The 2006 Toronto municipal election took place on 13 November 2006 to elect a mayor and 44 city councillors in Toronto, Ontario. In addition, school trustees were elected to the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic District School Board, Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest... , Ward 21 |
||
| Candidate | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Mihevc Joe Mihevc Joe Mihevc is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada. He represents one of the two St. Paul's wards, Ward 21 St. Paul's.-Background:... |
8,096 | 56.7 |
| John Sewell | 3,326 | 23.3 |
| John Adams | 2,713 | 19.0 |
| Tony Corpuz | 150 | 1.1 |
Works
- Inside City Hall: The year of the opposition (1971) A.M. Hakkert. ISBN 0-88866-507-5
- Up Against City Hall (1972) James Lorimer and Company. ISBN 0-88862-021-7
- Rowland Travel Guide to Toronto (with Charlotte Sykes) (1985) Rowland & Jacob. ISBN 0-921430-00-0
- Police: Urban Policing in Canada (1986) James Lorimer and Company. ISBN 0-88862-744-0
- The shape of the city: Toronto struggles with modern planning (1993) University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-8020-7409-X
- Houses and Homes: Housing for Canadians (1994) James Lorimer and Company. ISBN 1-55028-437-1
- Redeveloping public housing projects (1999) Caledon Institute of Social PolicyCaledon Institute of Social PolicyThe Caledon Institute of Social Policy, also Caledon Institute, is a private Canadian think tank focused on social policy. It was founded in 1992.It is primarily funded by ....
. ISBN 1-894159-67-5 - Doors Open Toronto, Illuminating the City's Great Spaces (2002) Random House. ISBN 0-676-97498-8
- Mackenzie, a political biography of William Lyon Mackenzie (2002) James Lorimer and Company. ISBN 1-55028-767-2
- A New City Agenda (2004) Zephyr Press. ISBN 0-9734112-2-8
- The Shape of the Suburbs: Understanding Toronto's Sprawl (2009) University of Toronto Press. ISBN 0-80209-587-9
Mackenzie: A Political Biography
The work is a biographyBiography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
and historical defense of William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie
William Lyon Mackenzie was a Scottish born American and Canadian journalist, politician, and rebellion leader. He served as the first mayor of Toronto, Upper Canada and was an important leader during the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion.-Background and early years in Scotland, 1795–1820:Mackenzie was...
, the first mayor of Toronto and leader of the 1837 Upper Canada Rebellion
Upper Canada Rebellion
The Upper Canada Rebellion was, along with the Lower Canada Rebellion in Lower Canada, a rebellion against the British colonial government in 1837 and 1838. Collectively they are also known as the Rebellions of 1837.-Issues:...
.