Samuel McBride
Encyclopedia
Samuel McBride (July 13, 1866 – November 10, 1936) was a two-time Mayor of Toronto serving his first term from 1928 to 1929 and his second term in 1936 which ended prematurely due to his death.
to an Irish
Protestant family (his grandfather came from County Antrim
) and was a committed Orangeman
. He made his fortune in the lumber
industry. He became an alderman
in the early 1900s and served on Toronto City Council
for 30 years. He lived at 351 Palmerston Boulevard
and on the Toronto Island.
He ran unsuccessfully for mayor three times before being elected in the 1928 election
, defeating incumbent Thomas Foster. He was then defeated by Bert Wemp
in the 1930 election
. He returned to the mayor's office in the 1936 election
defeating incumbent James Simpson
.
Among his accomplishments are helping to create the Toronto Transit Commission
, building the Coliseum at the Canadian National Exhibition
and overseeing early development of the city's waterfront. He was considered a candidate of the workers and was supported by the left-leaning Toronto Daily Star and opposed by the more conservative Toronto Telegram
during his time in politics. On city council he was one of the main proponents of an eight hour work week and giving women the vote.
He served for many years on the city's police
commission. Professor Michael Horn of York University
attributes the Commission's decision to ban all public meetings held in languages other than English to McBride and his concern about Jewish trade union
and socialist organizers holding meetings in Yiddish in Toronto's Garment District. "Like all mayors at that time", says Horn, "McBride was strongly pro-British and anti-communist."
enthusiast and was a founding member and charter director of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society in 1909 and served as the society's president in 1919 and 1920. He was also a founding director of the Canadian National Trotting and Pacing Harness Horse Association. In 1907, McBride drove his King Bryson to a world record of 2:19½ for trotters over a half-mile track on ice at Plattsburg, New York.
In recognition of his service to the Toronto Island community, one of the ferries
operating from downtown Toronto to the Toronto Island was named after him in 1939, and is still in service as of 2009.
. He was 70 years old.
Politics
He 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...
to an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Protestant family (his grandfather came from County Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
) and was a committed Orangeman
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
. He made his fortune in the lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
industry. He became an alderman
Alderman
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 the early 1900s and served on 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....
for 30 years. He lived at 351 Palmerston Boulevard
Palmerston Boulevard
Palmerston Boulevard is a residential street located in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, two blocks west of Bathurst Street, between Koreatown and Little Italy.The Boulevard's well co-ordinated nature lends it its charm...
and on the Toronto Island.
He ran unsuccessfully for mayor three times before being elected in the 1928 election
Toronto municipal election, 1928
Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Canada, on January 1, 1928. Sam McBride was elected mayor, defeating incumbent Thomas Foster by a wide margin.-Toronto mayor:...
, defeating incumbent Thomas Foster. He was then defeated by Bert Wemp
Bert Wemp
Bert Sterling Wemp was a Canadian journalist and mayor of Toronto.Born in Tweed, Ontario, he was raised in Cabbagetown and attended Dufferin School and Jarvis Collegiate Institute. In 1905, he joined the Toronto Telegram working as a suburban editor, editor, city editor, and head of the court bureau...
in the 1930 election
Toronto municipal election, 1930
Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Canada, on January 1, 1930. In a close mayoral election Bert Wemp ousted two term incumbent Sam McBride. The main issue of the election was a proposed downtown beautification scheme that would have rebuilt roads in the core. The proposal was rejected in a...
. He returned to the mayor's office in the 1936 election
Toronto municipal election, January 1936
Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Canada, on January 1, 1936. Sam McBride was elected mayor in a three way race in which incumbent James Simpson finished third.-Toronto mayor:...
defeating incumbent James Simpson
James Simpson (politician)
James "Jimmy" Simpson was a Canadian trade unionist, printer, journalist and left wing politician in Toronto, Ontario...
.
Among his accomplishments are helping to create the Toronto Transit Commission
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
, building the Coliseum at the Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition
Canadian National Exhibition , also known as The Ex, is an annual event that takes place at Exhibition Place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the 18 days leading up to and including Labour Day Monday. With an attendance of approximately 1.3 million visitors each season, it is Canada’s largest...
and overseeing early development of the city's waterfront. He was considered a candidate of the workers and was supported by the left-leaning Toronto Daily Star and opposed by the more conservative Toronto Telegram
Toronto Telegram
The Toronto Evening Telegram was a conservative, broadsheet afternoon newspaper published in Toronto from 1876 to 1971. It had a reputation for supporting the Conservative Party at both the federal and provincial level. The paper competed with the liberal Toronto Star...
during his time in politics. On city council he was one of the main proponents of an eight hour work week and giving women the vote.
He served for many years on the city's police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
commission. Professor Michael Horn of 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....
attributes the Commission's decision to ban all public meetings held in languages other than English to McBride and his concern about Jewish trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
and socialist organizers holding meetings in Yiddish in Toronto's Garment District. "Like all mayors at that time", says Horn, "McBride was strongly pro-British and anti-communist."
Harness racing
McBride was also a harness racingHarness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
enthusiast and was a founding member and charter director of the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society in 1909 and served as the society's president in 1919 and 1920. He was also a founding director of the Canadian National Trotting and Pacing Harness Horse Association. In 1907, McBride drove his King Bryson to a world record of 2:19½ for trotters over a half-mile track on ice at Plattsburg, New York.
Toronto Island
McBride had a cottage on the Toronto Island and represented the Island as its Alderman. Nathan Phillips recalled that as an alderman, McBride had a terrible temper. He once got into a fist fight with a fellow alderman and once threw a can of beans at alderman Joe Beamish, missing Beamish, but leaving a dent in the panelling of the council chamber. In 1935, he was instrumental in stopping the building of a tunnel to the Toronto Island that was intended to facilitate an Island Airport.After his death, the City built the Island Airport, without a tunnel, served by ferries every since.In recognition of his service to the Toronto Island community, one of the ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
operating from downtown Toronto to the Toronto Island was named after him in 1939, and is still in service as of 2009.
Death
McBride was the first Toronto mayor to die in office. He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, TorontoMount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
Mount Pleasant Cemetery is a cemetery located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.In the early 19th century, the only authorized cemeteries within the city of Toronto were limited to the members of either the Roman Catholic Church or the Church of England...
. He was 70 years old.