David Charles Barrow (May 7, 1947 – September 22, 2022) was a Canadian politician. He served as the mayor of Richmond Hill from 2006 to 2021 and previously served on its city council.
Dave Barrow | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Richmond Hill | |
| In office 2006–2021 | |
| Preceded by | William F. Bell |
| Succeeded by | David West |
| Richmond Hill Ward 4 Councillor | |
| In office 1978–1985 | |
| Succeeded by | Gail Blackburn |
| York Region Councillor for Richmond Hill | |
| In office 1997–2006 | |
| Succeeded by | Vito Spatafora |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Charles Barrow May 7, 1947 Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada |
| Died | September 22, 2022 (aged 75) Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
editBarrow was born in Richmond Hill, Ontario, on May 7, 1947,[1][2] to Elgin "Tubby" and Mary Barrow.[2][3] He completed his primary education at McConaghy Public School, before attending Richmond Hill High School in his hometown. He then studied at Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.[1]
Political career
editBarrow was first elected to political office in 1978, representing Ward 4 in the Richmond Hill city council. He served in that capacity until 1985, when he went back to his family's business – an insurance brokerage company established by his father in 1964[4] – following the death of the elder Barrow.[1][5] After just over a decade outside politics, he made a comeback in 1997 when he was elected to the York Regional Council.[1] Barrow voted against giving himself and fellow councillors a salary increase of 54 per cent in 1998, stating that it was "not sending a very good message" to municipal staff and the public.[6] He later voted in favour of having certain travel and conference expenses incurred by councillors' spouses covered at the expense of taxpayers in October that same year.[7] He also advocated for the preservation of the Oak Ridges Moraine,[8] and was opposed to the provincial government's proposal to construct housing on the landform.[9] During the 2003 municipal election, Barrow ran on a platform of alleviating traffic congestion in the area and starting a road safety-watch program.[8] He became deputy mayor that year,[3] and was acting mayor when incumbent William F. Bell underwent hip surgery in February 2004.[10]
Barrow was elected mayor of Richmond Hill in November 2006,[5] following Bell's retirement.[11] He was succeeded as regional councillor by Vito Spatafora.[12] Although Barrow called for the town hall to be relocated back to the city's downtown – as part of an overall plan to revive the core of Richmond Hill[3][13] – he later walked back on the plan, reluctant to devote a significant amount of the municipality's reserve funds into a single project.[14] Barrow was subsequently re-elected in 2010, 2014, and 2018.[1] In late 2017, he declined an offer from the provincial government to host a cannabis retail location in Richmond Hill, a decision that received unanimous support from the city council.[15] Barrow took a medical leave of absence starting in February 2021. Although he intended to resume his duties as mayor by the fall that year,[16] he ultimately resigned from the position in September 2021,[17][18] and was succeeded by David West after a by-election.[19][20]
Personal life
editBarrow was married to Tomye Anne until his death.[2][21] Together, they had two children: Greg and Jennifer.[2]
Barrow died on the morning of September 22, 2022, in Richmond Hill.[1][2][21] He was diagnosed with dementia and a stroke prior to his death at the age of 75.[2][22]
Awards and honours
editBarrow was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012).[23][24] In September 2022, a week before his death, the Richmond Hill council dedicated the Dave Barrow Square, located east of the city's Central Library, in his honour.[24] A portion of the trail in the Oak Ridges Corridor Conservation Reserve was also renamed the David Barrow Trail that same month.[21]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Wang, Sheila (September 22, 2022). "Former Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow dies at 75". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "David Charles Barrow Obituary". Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via Tribute Archive.
- ^ a b c Grech, Caroline (November 14, 2006). "Barrow cruises to victory – Newly minted mayor says he is overwhelmed by support from town's people". Richmond Hill Liberal. p. 1. ProQuest 362375037. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Varley, Roger (February 2, 2005). "All in the family – Family businesses account for 45 per cent of GDP". Richmond Hill Liberal. p. 1. ProQuest 362396953. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b "Mayor Barrow Biography". Dcbarrow.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
- ^ Armstrong, Jane (April 8, 1998). "Richmond Hill council set to embrace raise – After public pressure forced them to reject a 54-per-cent pay rise, politicians ponder a 36-per-cent increase". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. A8. ProQuest 384686577. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Swainson, Gail (October 29, 1998). "Politicians' spouses to get paid trips". Toronto Star. p. 1. ProQuest 437814892. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ a b "GTA Votes York Region". Toronto Star. November 11, 2003. p. B6. ProQuest 438652258. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Swainson, Gail (April 3, 2002). "Council asked to fight moraine homes – Environmentalists want provincial plan stopped". Toronto Star. p. B2. ProQuest 438435573. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Mayor recovering after hip surgery". Richmond Hill Liberal. February 3, 2004. p. 1. ProQuest 362310411. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ CBC Toronto – Toronto Votes 2006 – GTA Mayoral Races – Richmond Hill. Cbc.ca (November 13, 2006). Retrieved on 2012-03-05.
- ^ "New plan will address residents, not land: mayor". Richmond Hill Liberal. December 7, 2006. p. 1. ProQuest 362428629. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Grech, Caroline (October 21, 2006). "Mayoral candidates square off over hall". Richmond Hill Liberal. p. 1. ProQuest 362446865. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ McLean, Adam (September 10, 2009). "Should town hall be relocated?". Richmond Hill Liberal. p. 1. ProQuest 362324403. Retrieved September 24, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Zarzour, Kim (December 6, 2017). "Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow just says no to recreational marijuana sales in his town". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "Breaking: Richmond Hill mayor hopes to return to work at end of summer". Richmond Hill Liberal. June 11, 2021. ProQuest 2541033116. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Freeman, Joshua (September 14, 2021). "Richmond Hill mayor Dave Barrow says he is stepping down". CTV News. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ "Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow announces retirement after 6 months on medical leave". Richmond Hill Liberal. September 15, 2021. ProQuest 2573053043. Retrieved September 25, 2022 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Jackson, Hannah (January 25, 2022). "David West wins election for Richmond Hill mayor". Global News. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ Yan, Yoyo (January 28, 2022). "'Rules need to be applied firmly, fairly': Richmond Hill's new mayor vows to restore council civility". YorkRegion.com. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ a b c Lavoie, Joanna (September 22, 2022). "Former Richmond Hill Mayor Dave Barrow has died at age 75". CTV News. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Wang, Sheila (October 12, 2022). "Tears shed, joy relived, at former Richmond Hill mayor Dave Barrow's memorial service". Waterloo Region Record. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
While enduring dementia, Barrow died suddenly after a stroke on Sept. 22 at the age of 75, about a year after he retired from the city council.
- ^ "His Worship Dave Barrow". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
- ^ a b "Council Honours Former Mayor for More Than 30 Years of Service". City of Richmond Hill. September 15, 2022. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved September 25, 2022.