May Birchard
Encyclopedia
May Birchard was a municipal politician and poverty activist in Toronto
, Canada
. Born in Toronto she married F.J. Birchard, an agricultural scientist who was an expert on grain. During the First World War the family moved to Winnipeg
. A self described left-wing Liberal May Birchard was a strong believer in the Canadian Social Gospel
movement that originated in Winnipeg during the first part of the 20th century. In 1933, during the Great Depression
, Birchard founded the Good Neighbours' Club to aid unemployed men. A few years later a branch was opened in Toronto. The organization continues to operate with a drop-in centre on Jarvis Street.
After the death of her husband in 1940 Birchard moved back to Toronto and became active in local politics. She first served as a school board trustee in 1942. At the height of the war she pushed for daycare for the children of women helping with the war effort for free meals for impoverished children. She was elected to Toronto City Council in 1946. She represented Ward 2 which was a mixed area west of the Don River. The northern part of the riding was Rosedale
, the wealthiest part of the city. The southern part was Cabbagetown
, the poorest part of the city. Birchard's had much support in Cabbagetown, but she was vulnerable to candidates who could win the backing of Rosedale. Thus Birchard's career was marked by alternating victories and defeats on council campaigns.
On the council she pushed for women's rights, most notably on improving access to birth control
. She was also an advocate for the poor and for more social housing, including strong support for the Regent Park
project that was built in her ward in the era. In honour of her efforts a Toronto Community Housing Corporation
building at Dundas and Broadview was named the May Birchard Apartments.
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...
. Born in Toronto she married F.J. Birchard, an agricultural scientist who was an expert on grain. During the First World War the family moved to Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
. A self described left-wing Liberal May Birchard was a strong believer in the Canadian Social Gospel
Social Gospel
The Social Gospel movement is a Protestant Christian intellectual movement that was most prominent in the early 20th century United States and Canada...
movement that originated in Winnipeg during the first part of the 20th century. In 1933, during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, Birchard founded the Good Neighbours' Club to aid unemployed men. A few years later a branch was opened in Toronto. The organization continues to operate with a drop-in centre on Jarvis Street.
After the death of her husband in 1940 Birchard moved back to Toronto and became active in local politics. She first served as a school board trustee in 1942. At the height of the war she pushed for daycare for the children of women helping with the war effort for free meals for impoverished children. She was elected to Toronto City Council in 1946. She represented Ward 2 which was a mixed area west of the Don River. The northern part of the riding was 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....
, the wealthiest part of the city. The southern part was 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....
, the poorest part of the city. Birchard's had much support in Cabbagetown, but she was vulnerable to candidates who could win the backing of Rosedale. Thus Birchard's career was marked by alternating victories and defeats on council campaigns.
On the council she pushed for women's rights, most notably on improving access to birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
. She was also an advocate for the poor and for more social housing, including strong support for 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,...
project that was built in her ward in the era. In honour of her efforts a Toronto Community Housing Corporation
Toronto Community Housing Corporation
Toronto Community Housing Corporation is a public housing agency in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is the second-largest housing provider in North America. TCHC is the amalgamation of three housing organizations in Toronto following the downloading of housing to municipalities by the provincial...
building at Dundas and Broadview was named the May Birchard Apartments.