1976 Toronto municipal election

1976 Toronto mayoral election
Turnout	30.5%
Mayor of Toronto before election; David Crombie ;	Elected Mayor of Toronto; David Crombie ;

Last updated February 13, 2025

The Toronto municipal election of 1976 was held on December 6, 1976 in Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mayors, city councillors and school board trustees were elected in the municipalities of Toronto, York, East York, North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough.

Toronto

Mayoral race

As in the 1974 election incumbent David Crombie faced no real opposition in his bid for reelection.

Results: David Crombie - 112,763; Don Andrews - 7,126; Henry Argasinski - 3,760; Richard Sanders - 2,373; Judy Lucko - 1,863; Ronald Rodgers - 1,613; Bill Zock - 1,506; Harry Dahme - 1,223; Robert Simms - 1,152; Andreis Murvieks - 962

City council

City council was mostly stable, the only notable upset was the defeat of long serving Old Guard member William Boytchuk by NDPer David White in Ward 1. The conservative membership remained stable as retiring moderate NDPer Reid Scott was replaced by conservative Tom Wardle Jr.

Two aldermen were elected per Ward. The alderman with the most votes was declared Senior Alderman and sat on both Toronto City Council and Metro Council.

Ward 1 (Swansea and Bloor West Village): Elizabeth Eayrs (incumbent) - 7,656; David White - 5,932; William Boytchuk (incumbent) - 5,883; Ben Grys - 4,420; Amonsen - 1,314; Ed Homonyla - 1,237

Ward 2 (Parkdale and Brockton): Tony O'Donohue (incumbent) - 7,656; Ed Negridge (incumbent) - 4,545; Barbara Adams - 3,005; Glen Bany - 2,912; Pat Bator - 1,786

Ward 3 (Davenport and Corso Italia): Joseph Piccininni (incumbent) - 5,826; Richard Gilbert - 4,651; Tony Amond - 1,464; Slough Bolton - 1,457; Domenic Tersigni - 545

Ward 4 (Trinity-Bellwoods and Little Italy): Art Eggleton (incumbent) - 4,615; George Ben (incumbent) - 2,957; Joe Pantalone - 2,713; Lee Zaslofsky - 1,940; Sydney Pimentel - 563; Brian Ashley - 379

Ward 5 (The Annex and Yorkville): Ying Hope (incumbent) - 7,097; Susan Fish - 5,201; Fiona Nelson - 4,731; Barbara Jacob - 2,061; Brian Ashton - 1,796; Alex McDonald - 1,199; Norman Elder - 1,086

Ward 6 (Financial District, Toronto - University of Toronto): Dan Heap (incumbent) - 8,503; Allan Sparrow (incumbent) - 8,103; Peter Budd - 4,448; Arnold Linelsky - 2,046

Ward 7 (Regent Park and Riverdale): John Sewell (incumbent) - 8,786; Janet Howard (incumbent) - 6,460; Gary Stamm - 4,419; Ronald Taylor - 770; Charles Rolfe - 767

Ward 8 (Riverdale): Fred Beavis (incumbent) - 7,193; Thomas Clifford (incumbent) - 6,883; Beatrice Zaverucha - 1,062; Louis Kesten - 951; John Bizzell - 771; Joe Dabonte - 458

Ward 9 (The Beaches): Pat Sheppard - 4,949; Tom Wardle, Jr. - 4,948; Bruce Budd - 4,665; Joe McNulty - 4,446; William Ross - 3,094; Neil Young - 2,114; John Oliver - 1,766; Sharon Meecham - 735; Edmond Cameron - 432; George Sloan - 344; Tom Last - 232

Ward 10 (Rosedale and North Toronto): John Bosley (incumbent) - 11,638; June Rowlands - 11,307; Robert Perkins - 5,079; David White - 1,517

Ward 11 (Forest Hill and North Toronto): David Smith (incumbent) - 12,441; Anne Johnston (incumbent) - 11,600; Russ Tandler - 1,412; Fay MacPerson - 1,283

Changes

Mayor David Crombie resigned on August 31, 1978 to contest a Federal by-election for Rosedale on October 16, 1978. On September 1, 1978 City Council met to appoint a new Mayor. The right-wingers stood Ward 8 Alderman Fred Beavis while the left-wingers stood Ward 11 Alderman Anne Johnston. When the vote was held the two candidates were tied with 11 votes each so in accordance with the Municipal Act put both names into a hat, and the name picked out of the hat would officially be pronounced interim mayor. Fred Beavis was the name chosen and he became mayor. Thomas Clifford now became Ward 8's sole Alderman and was appointed Metro Councillor on September 11.

Metro boroughs

East York

Results from the borough of East York. Two aldermen were elected to each ward.^[2]

Mayor: Alan Redway - 12,092; Howard Chandler - 11,138

Ward 1: Dave Johnson - 4,568; Leslie Saunders - 2,758; Cy Reader - 2,156; Mike Kenny - 1,339; Stephen Milne - 732; Bill Segritt - 369

Ward 2: John Flowers - 2,977; Norman Crane - 2,326; Arthur Shart - 1,257; Marg Reilly - 1,211; Robert MacKenzie - 595; Frank Johnson - 465; James McKinnon - 412; Chris Greenland - 353

Ward 3: Ray Ireland - 2,644; Don van Mierlo - 2,577; Jack Irwin - 1,815; Ken Steele - 1,368; Gordon Crann - 1,357

Ward 4: Edna Beange - 3,477; Peter Oyler - 2,777; Herbert McGroarty - 2,497; Harry Wilsher - 1,396

Source: Toronto Star, December 7, 1976, page A11.

Etobicoke

Results from Etobicoke. Four members were elected to the Board of Control. Two aldermen were elected to each ward.^[3]

Mayor: (incumbent) Dennis Flynn - 46,550; Juris Ditevko - 7,559

Board of Control: (incumbent)Bill Stockwell - 34,782; (incumbent) Bruce Sinclair - 30,411; (incumbent)Nora Pownall - 26,918; (incumbent)E. H. (Pete) Farrow - 26,357; John Allen - 23,213; Ron Barr- 13,027; Keith Gallacher - 10,038

Ward 1: Helen Wursta; Morley Kells

Ward 2: Alex Marchetti; Stewart East

Ward 3: Dick O'Brien; Alex McNeil

Ward 4: Lois Griffin; John Hanna

Ward 5: Ruth Grier; Pat Keaveney

Source: Toronto Star, December 7, 1976, page A11.

North York

Mayor: (incumbent) Mel Lastman - 60,093; William Sutherland - 15,634; Pallotta - 3,376; Obadia - 1,088; Minty - 920

(1019 out of 1305 polls)

Lastman is re-elected defeating a challenge by Controller William Sutherland

Board of Control: (incumbent) Barbara Greene - 52,053; Esther Shiner - 39,768; Ron Summers - 32,616; Bob Yuill - 31,050; Alex McGivern - 30,110; Jack Bedder - 20,267; Bernadette Michael - 13,803; Angelo Natale -10,281

(1019 out of 1305 polls)

Ward 1: Gord Risk

Ward 2: Mario Gentile

Ward 3: Pat O'Neill

v t e 1976 Toronto municipal election : North York Councillor, Ward Four
Candidate	Votes	%
Murray Markin	2,073	40.31
Hugh Montgomerie	1,016	19.76
Jean Lance	959	18.65
Martin Lewin	745	14.49
Harbans Varma	350	6.81
Total valid votes	5,143	100.00

61 out of 77 polls reporting.

Hugh Montgomerie was a forty-three-year-old film technician. He recommended a ban on high-density development projects that did not have adequate recreation facilities.^[4]
Martin Lewin was a thirty-two-year-old sales manager. He argued that shoppers in major plazas should not be forced to pay parking fees.^[4]
Harbans Rai Varma was a fifty-year-old supply teacher. He called for lower employment and inflation levels, and for improved race relations.^[4] He campaigned for the North York Board of Education in 1980, and lost to Elsa Chandler in Ward Four. A candidate named "Rai Varma" ran for the Markham Board of Control in 1991; this may be the same person.

Ward 5: Marilyn Meshberg

Ward 6: Milton Berger

Ward 7: Irving Chapley

Ward 8: Alan Heisey

Ward 9: Norm Gardner

Ward 10: Marie Laballe

Ward 11: Peter Clarke

Ward 12: Barry Burton

Ward 13: Mike Smith

Ward 14: Betty Sutherland

Scarborough

Results from the Borough of Scarborough. Four members were elected to the Board of Control. One alderman was elected to each ward.^[5]

Mayor: (incumbent) Paul Cosgrove - 51,859; Lois James - 6,526

Board of Control: (incumbent) Gus Harris - 35,525; (incumbent) Ken Morrish - 35,243; (incumbent) Joyce Trimmer - 31,358; (incumbent)Brian Harrison - 30,956; Shirley Eidt - 28,363; Grant Boucher - 10,061; Larry Calcutt - 8,321; John Fletcher - 7,770

Ward 1: Bill Belfontaine

Ward 2: Carol Ruddell

Ward 3: Norm Kelly

Ward 4: Jack Goodlad

Ward 5: Frank Faubert

Ward 6: Frederick Samuel Bland

Ward 7: Ed Fulton

Ward 8: Tom Brazier

Ward 9: Doug Colling

Ward 10: Ron Watson

Ward 11: John Wimbs

Ward 12: Joe De Kort

York

Results from the borough of York. Two members were elected to the Board of Control. One alderman was elected to each ward.^[6]^[7]

Mayor: Philip White 14,711; Fergy Brown 14,443

Board of Control (2 elected): Doug Saunders 14,549; Alan Tonks 11,998; Patrick Canavan 7,479; Gordon 6,229; Ciardullo 3,572

Ward 1: Ben Nobleman (acclaimed)

Ward 2: Oscar Kogan (acclaimed)

Ward 3: Ron Bradd; Mizzoni 934; D'Aprile 825

Ward 4: Clifford Ward 1,532; Howells 693

Ward 5: Chris Tonks (acclaimed)

Ward 6: Floyd Sainsbury 2,386; Dodds 2,187

Ward 7: Gayle Christie 2,853; Gallichan 1,484; McMahon 373

Ward 8: Mike Waclawski 2,987; John Nunziata 1,920

References

↑ Page A8. (1976, Dec 07). Toronto Star (1971-2009)
↑ "Voting Results: East York". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.
↑ "Voting Results: Etobicoke". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.
1 2 3 "North York", Toronto Star, 3 December 1976, A7.
↑ "Voting Results: Scarborough". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.
↑ "Voting Results: York". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.
↑ "Results in Metro's five boroughs". The Globe and Mail. December 7, 1976. p. 4.

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[1] Page A8. (1976, Dec 07). Toronto Star (1971-2009)

[2] "Voting Results: East York". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.

[3] "Voting Results: Etobicoke". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.

[autogenerated1976-4] 1 2 3 "North York", Toronto Star, 3 December 1976, A7.

[5] "Voting Results: Scarborough". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.

[6] "Voting Results: York". Toronto Star. December 7, 1976. p. A11.

[7] "Results in Metro's five boroughs". The Globe and Mail. December 7, 1976. p. 4.

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