Max Sherman (Ontario politician)
Encyclopedia
Max Sherman was a businessperson and politician in Brantford
, Ontario
, Canada
. He was the city's mayor for two years and served a total of thirty-one years on the Brantford city council
.
, the son of Ben Sherman, who owned and operated Sherman's Hardware for many years. The younger Sherman planned to open his own hardware store in the city, but was diagnosed with tuberculosis
only three days before the store's scheduled launch in 1938. As a result, he spent ten months recovering at the Brantford Sanatorium. He later recounted that his doctor told him, "You can open your business in three days and die or go to the San, get cured and have a chance at a long, healthy life." Reflecting on the situation at age eighty-nine, he said that moving to Brantford was the right choice.
He was active in Brantford's Jewish
community, serving as master of ceremonies at the opening of a new synagogue
building in 1948 and chairing B'nai Brith Canada
's Brantford lodge (which closed in 1974). He was refused admission into the Brantford chapter of an international service organization in the 1950s because of anti-Semitism
, though he chose not to publicize the matter at the time. Many years later, he said that popular opinions had changed significantly in his lifetime and described Brantford as "a good town to live in."
in the 1959 provincial election
, but was defeated. He served further terms on city council from 1961 to 1964 and from 1976 to 1997. During his last twenty-one years on council, he represented the city's third ward.
As mayor, Sherman led council in purchasing the land on which Brantford City Hall
now sits. He also helped bring about the Brantford Civic Centre
and oversaw the start of construction for the city's sewage treatment plant. The later measure was undertaken, in large part, to improve the environmental condition of the Grand River
.
Sherman helped negotiate the 1980 Brant-Brantford Annexation Agreement, which saw the county shift a piece of its territory to the city. He later said that he regarded the agreement as a success story and criticized popular perceptions that it took place amid acrimony and threats of retribution. Sherman also chaired the Brant County social services committee in the 1980s; in 1985, he criticized county politicians for attempting to cut off most social assistance recipients.
Sherman was a respected public figure during his later years, serving on several boards including the Brantford Waste Reduction Steering Committee, the Brantford Community Services Advisory Board, and the Victorian Order of Nurses Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Branch. Max Sherman Drive, the foyer at city hall, and the auditorium at the Brantford Seniors' Centre are all named in his honour. He supported Mike Hancock
's successful mayoral campaigns in 2003
and 2006
.
He died in 2010 at age ninety-five.
Provincial
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
, 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...
. He was the city's mayor for two years and served a total of thirty-one years on the Brantford city council
Brantford City Council
The Brantford City Council is the governing body of Brantford, Ontario.The council consists of a mayor and ten councillors, two representing each of five wards...
.
Early life and private career
Max Sherman was born in TorontoToronto
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...
, the son of Ben Sherman, who owned and operated Sherman's Hardware for many years. The younger Sherman planned to open his own hardware store in the city, but was diagnosed with tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
only three days before the store's scheduled launch in 1938. As a result, he spent ten months recovering at the Brantford Sanatorium. He later recounted that his doctor told him, "You can open your business in three days and die or go to the San, get cured and have a chance at a long, healthy life." Reflecting on the situation at age eighty-nine, he said that moving to Brantford was the right choice.
He was active in Brantford's Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
community, serving as master of ceremonies at the opening of a new synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
building in 1948 and chairing B'nai Brith Canada
B'nai Brith Canada
B'nai Brith Canada is the Canadian section of B'nai Brith . It was founded in 1875 and is the country's oldest Jewish service organization.-Members:...
's Brantford lodge (which closed in 1974). He was refused admission into the Brantford chapter of an international service organization in the 1950s because of anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
, though he chose not to publicize the matter at the time. Many years later, he said that popular opinions had changed significantly in his lifetime and described Brantford as "a good town to live in."
Political career
Sherman later started a hardware store in Brantford and became involved in the city's political life. He first served on city council from 1953 to 1957, when he began a two-year term as mayor. He sought election to the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
in the 1959 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1959
The Ontario general election of 1959 was held on June 11, 1959, to elect the 98 members of the 26th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
, but was defeated. He served further terms on city council from 1961 to 1964 and from 1976 to 1997. During his last twenty-one years on council, he represented the city's third ward.
As mayor, Sherman led council in purchasing the land on which Brantford City Hall
Brantford City Hall
Brantford City Hall is the home of the municipal government of Brantford, Ontario, Canada. The building is located at 100 Wellington Square.Designed by Michael Kopsa and built in 1967, it is exemplary of Brutalist architecture...
now sits. He also helped bring about the Brantford Civic Centre
Brantford Civic Centre
The Brantford Civic Centre is a 2,981 seat arena in Brantford, Ontario. It was built as a Canadian Centennial project in 1967. It is home to the Brantford Golden Eagles of the Ontario Hockey Association, and the Brantford Blast of Major Hockey League...
and oversaw the start of construction for the city's sewage treatment plant. The later measure was undertaken, in large part, to improve the environmental condition of the Grand River
Grand River (Ontario)
The Grand River is a large river in southwestern Ontario, Canada. From its source, it flows south through Grand Valley, Fergus, Elora, Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, Paris, Brantford, Caledonia, and Cayuga before emptying into the north shore of Lake Erie south of Dunnville at Port Maitland...
.
Sherman helped negotiate the 1980 Brant-Brantford Annexation Agreement, which saw the county shift a piece of its territory to the city. He later said that he regarded the agreement as a success story and criticized popular perceptions that it took place amid acrimony and threats of retribution. Sherman also chaired the Brant County social services committee in the 1980s; in 1985, he criticized county politicians for attempting to cut off most social assistance recipients.
Sherman was a respected public figure during his later years, serving on several boards including the Brantford Waste Reduction Steering Committee, the Brantford Community Services Advisory Board, and the Victorian Order of Nurses Brant-Haldimand-Norfolk Branch. Max Sherman Drive, the foyer at city hall, and the auditorium at the Brantford Seniors' Centre are all named in his honour. He supported Mike Hancock
Mike Hancock (Canadian politician)
Mike Hancock was the previous mayor of the city of Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He was elected to the position in the 2003 municipal elections, defeating three-term incumbent Chris Friel by 11668 votes to 11653...
's successful mayoral campaigns in 2003
Brantford municipal election, 2003
The 2003 Brantford municipal election was held on November 10, 2003, to elect a mayor, city councillors, and school trustees in the city of Brantford, Ontario....
and 2006
Brantford municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Brantford municipal election was held on November 13, 2006, to elect a mayor, councillors, and school trustees in the city of Brantford, Ontario.-Results :...
.
He died in 2010 at age ninety-five.
Electoral record
Municipal (partial)Provincial