December 1950 Toronto municipal election

Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on December 4, 1950. It was the second time the elections were held in December (the first was in 1936); traditionally elections occurred on New Year's Day. Incumbent mayor Hiram E. McCallum narrowly defeated Allan Lamport. The defeat of Norman Freed and the failure of Charles Sims to regain his seat would bring to a close the communist Labor-Progressive Party's presence on Toronto's City Council though the party, and its successor, the Communist Party of Canada would continue to elect members as school trustees for several decades.

Toronto mayor

McCallum, running for his fourth one-year term, was challenged by Controller Lamport. McCallum had faced only token opposition in his previous elections, but Lamport came surprisingly close to defeating him. For much of election night it looked as though Lamport would win, but it was swung by McCallum's ten thousand vote margin in the North Toronto Ward 9.

Results: Hiram E. McCallum - 86,491; Allan Lamport - 84,987

Board of Control

Lamport's decision to run for mayor left one vacancy on the Board of Control. This opening was won by Alderman Louis Shannon, with Ford Brand, secretary of the Toronto and District Labour Council finishing fifth and Alderman W.H. Collings in sixth. Former Controller and communist Stewart Smith made another attempt to return to the board, but finished seventh.

Results: John Innes (incumbent) - 93,656; David Balfour (incumbent) - 81,577; Leslie Saunders (incumbent) - 80,703; Louis Shannon - 74,859; Ford Brand - 66,235; W.H. Collings - 59,380; Stewart Smith - 28,309; Charles Henry Mahoney - 8,210; Frederick Vacher - 7,653

City council

Ward boundaries used in the 1950 election

Ward 1 (Riverdale): John McMechan (incumbent) - 12,381; William Allen (incumbent) - 12,294; Titchener-Smith - 4,794

Ward 2 (Cabbagetown and Rosedale): Joseph Cornish (incumbent) - 8,310; Beverley Sparling (incumbent) - 8,061; Sylvester Perry - 3,710

Ward 3 (West Downtown and Summerhill): Harold Fishleigh (incumbent) - 6,294; Howard Phillips (incumbent) - 8,767; Massey Edwards - 1,938; Probert - 1,440

Ward 4 (The Annex, Kensington Market and Garment District): Nathan Phillips (incumbent) - 8,767; Francis Chambers - 7,403; Norman Freed (incumbent) - 4,611; Friedman - 2,088; McConnell - 788; Francis Love - 437

Ward 5 (Trinity-Bellwoods): Arthur Frost (incumbent) - 12,479; Joseph Gould (incumbent) - 12,362; Charles Sims - 5,646; Midanik - 1,585; Haddrall - 784

Ward 6 (Davenport and Parkdale): Robert Colucci - 15,282; George Granell (incumbent) - 14,609; Lester Nelson (incumbent) - 14,129; Dewar Ferguson - 4,801

Ward 7 (West Toronto Junction): Alfred Cowling (incumbent) - 8,971; William Davidson (incumbent) - 8,878; David Sanderson - 5,189

Ward 8 (The Beaches): Ross Lipsett (incumbent) - 17,323; Alex Hodgins - 15,310; William Probert - 4,601; Maurice Punshon - 4,205; John Square - 1,443

Ward 9 (North Toronto): Frank Nash (incumbent) - 19,493; Roy E. Belyea (incumbent) - 19,488; Lewis - 4,328

Results taken from the December 5, 1950 Toronto Star and might not exactly match final tallies.

Changes

Controller John Innes died July 16, 1951; Ward 7 Alderman Alfred Cowling was appointed Controller September 5 and David Sanderson was appointed Alderman September 17.

References

Election Coverage. Toronto Star. December 5, 1950