On behalf of the City of Toronto and Toronto City Council, Mayor John Tory offers his condolences on the death of former Toronto Mayor June Rowlands. Rowlands was first elected to City Council in 1976 and was the first woman elected to serve as Mayor of the former City of Toronto in 1991 (pre-amalgamation). Her many roles included being the first woman to serve as a member of the Toronto Transit Commission and to chair the Police Services Board.
“We are greatly saddened by the death of June Rowlands, who blazed a trail through our city’s politics and was one of Toronto’s greatest supporters and champions,” said Mayor Tory. “We are thankful for June’s service to our city and her ability to get things done. I know that she will be greatly missed.”
During June Rowlands’ many years in public service, she was passionate about issues such as child care, affordable housing, modernizing fire services and promoting Toronto as the economic engine of Canada.
Rowlands’ priorities also included the environment, business development, health, safety, crime reduction and drug abuse prevention. She advocated for expanding the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to better support hotel, convention and trade business in Toronto, for establishing centres of excellence in research and biotechnology, and for Toronto playing a prominent role in the Great Lakes Mayors organization.
Flags at City Hall, Metro Hall and the civic centres have been lowered and will remain at half-mast from now until end of day Friday, December 29. A condolence book at City Hall will be available until end of day Friday, December 29. An online condolence book will be available on the City of Toronto website later today.
This news release is also available on the City’s website: http://ow.ly/wtZF30hoAlA
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