Most Famous Mayors of Toronto

As mayor of Toronto, you get to be the city’s king or queen! You have the supreme authority to make major choices that affect all Torontonians, such as how to allocate the city’s budget. The best mayors of Toronto create a legacy that will live on in history. As the ambassador of Toronto, you get to show off the city to the world and soak up all the cultural experiences it has to offer. Most importantly, you get to impact people’s lives and make Toronto a better place to call home.

There have been many Toronto mayors over the years. Some are more popular than others. Let’s celebrate the best mayors of Toronto and their legacies.

List of Toronto Mayors

1. Art Eggleton (1980 – 1991)
2. Barbara Hall (1994 – 1997)
3. David Crombie (1972 – 1978)
4. David Miller (2003 – 2010)
5. John Tory (2014 – 2023)
6. June Rowlands (1991 – 1994)
7. Mel Lastman (1988 – 2003)
8. Nathan Phillips (1955 – 1962)
9. Olivia Chow (2023 – )
10. Rob Ford (2010 – 2014)

Art Eggleton (1980 – 1991)

Art Eggleton is highly regarded among the best mayors of Toronto. He made waves as a city councillor, paving the way for his mayoral reign from 1980-1991. Art was the longest-serving mayor in Toronto’s history. His commitment to social justice, environmentalism, and public service earned him the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Art helped secure funding for Toronto’s first subway extension in over a decade, and we all know how much Torontonians love their subways. He also promoted affordable housing and social services for vulnerable populations. Plus, Art established the Toronto Atmospheric Fund to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Art advocated for Toronto’s designation as a city of peace and actively vouched for disarmament initiatives. After his mayoral reign ended, Art served in the Canadian Senate for over a decade.

Barbara Hall (1994 – 1997)

Barbara Hall is a tenacious politician, lawyer, and human rights advocate. This diligent mayor approached her work with a strong heart and clear eyes. She was committed to make her city more inclusive, promoting social justice concerns vehemently. She was a powerful driving force for LGBTQ+ rights in the city. Barbara was also passionate about urban planning, environmentalism, and other critical challenges confronting Toronto.

Barbara was instrumental in forming the Toronto City Summit Alliance. She brought together various development groups to address the city’s economic and social concerns. She got multiple accolades after retiring, which celebrated her commitment to human rights. She also wrote books on urban planning and public safety.

David Crombie (1972 – 1978)

David Crombie wanted to make a difference in his community. This well-respected Toronto mayor is famous for creating the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, which became a urban renewal blueprint. David also advocated for public transit accessibility. He established an immensely revolutionary service for people with disabilities called Wheel-Trans. David believed that urbanized areas led to a more promising future.

After serving as an MP for Rosedale for a decade, he traded in his politician’s hat for a professor’s one. He taught the next generation of urban planners at Ryerson University. Crombie also found time to write several books on urban planning. In 2020, he was named an honourary fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

David Miller (2003 – 2010)

David Miller began his legal profession, but quickly recognised that politics was his true calling. Before becoming mayor, he served on Toronto’s city council twice. David was profoundly committed to environmental preservation and making Toronto a more equitable home for all. He was instrumental in the development of Toronto’s first Climate Change, Clean Air, and Sustainable Energy Action Plan. David understood that the environment held the key to a better future, and he was always eager for a battle!

David Miller was a transportation advocate. He worked hard to support the TTC subway system. He also launched the Tower Renewal initiative to give Toronto’s old high-rise buildings a new lease on life. Additionally, David was also a huge advocate for gay rights. He played a key role in legalizing same-sex marriage in Canada. David was such a superstar that he even won the World Mayor Prize in 2005 for his efforts in reducing social inequalities. After leaving office, Miller took on a new role as the CEO of WWF-Canada.

John Tory (2014 – 2023)

John Tory has been involved in the city’s political scene for years. He staunchly supported expanding the Toronto’s subway and public transit system. Similarly, John led the Toronto Global initiative, seeking attract financial investment to the city. In addition, he’s involved in many charitable organizations, like serving as chairman of the Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance. He regularly speaks out against the Ontario government’s cutbacks to social services. He has advocated for more financing for low-income housing and mental health services.

John has published several books. His debut is John Tory: A Life in Progress, an intriguing look into his professional journey. He wrote about his hopeful vision for the future of Toronto. In One Toronto: A Civic Solution, John shares his ideas on how to create a more unified city. He offers suggestions on how to tackle the biggest issues facing the city.

June Rowlands (1991 – 1994)

June Rowlands was a woman of many firsts. She’s the city’s first female mayor who served between1991 to 1994. Before entering politics, she was a teacher and later served as a member of Toronto City Council. June was also the first female chair of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Services Board, where she was known for her strong stance on public safety and crime prevention. She even went as far as creating the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy, which aimed to reduce gang and youth violence in the city.

June, a strong advocate for environmental problems, established Toronto’s first curbside recycling program. She co-wrote numerous books about her government experiences after retiring, including one about her campaign against homelessness.

Mel Lastman (1988 – 2003)

Mel Lastman made history as the first Jewish mayor of Toronto. This retail wizard was the founder of Bad Boy furniture chain. He went on to become the mayor of North York, a Toronto suburb, and held that position for a remarkable 25 years. Mel was known for his extravagant personality, comical wit, and love for being in the spotlight. In 1997, he became the first mayor of the amalgamated City of Toronto. His reign continued for another term until 2003.

Mel drove business and economic growth in Toronto. He orchestrated several major sporting events, including the 1994 World Basketball Championship. In addition, he donated a significant amount to the North York General Hospital, proving that he had a soft spot for healthcare. Mel faced one of his greatest challenges when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003. In the end, he retired from politics and passed the baton to David Miller.

Nathan Phillips (1955 – 1962)

Nathan Phillips was a beloved mayor of Toronto, elected to two consecutive terms. His environmentalism campaign ensured Toronto remained a pristine, aesthetically pleasing destination. During his term, Nathan improved transportation in Toronto significantly. He spearheaded the development of the Gardiner Expressway and expanded the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).

Nathan believed cultural diversity made the city unique. He worked tirelessly to promote multiculturalism. His mayoral work was so outstanding that he was awarded the Order of Canada and the Canadian Centennial Medal. In addition, Nathan helped establish the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Likewise, his advocacy led to his posthumous induction into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2011.

Olivia Chow (2023 – )

Olivia Chow’s life story speaks volumes about determination and public service. Born in Hong Kong in 1957, her move to Toronto with her family at age 13 sparked a journey marked by resilience and wholehearted dedication. Calling the St. James Town neighbourhood home, Olivia pursued her education at OCAD University. She cultivated a multifaceted career that covered housing, education, and advocacy for newcomers. This odyssey ignited her passion for community organizing, beginning with supporting Vietnamese Boat People searching for refuge in Canada.

Her unwavering devotion to public well-being propelled her to roles as a TDSB trustee and a Metro Toronto Councillor, where she devised enduring programs that continue to enrich families across Toronto. Olivia’s indelible impact on the city’s history became more pronounced during her term as the 66th Mayor of Toronto. Upon her election as the first woman of Asian heritage in this position, she broke barriers and paved the path toward greater diversity among leaders. An unswerving commitment to inclusive policies and an unwavering faith in unity marked her term in office.

As a leader, Olivia nurtured an atmosphere where immigrants and underrepresented communities felt acknowledged and appreciated. She championed initiatives surrounding affordable housing, social services, and environmental sustainability. These initiatives reflected her dedication to shaping a fairer and more dynamic city for all Torontonians.

Rob Ford (2010 – 2014)

Rob Ford is known for his no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point style of politics, He was all about saving money for the taxpayers. Rob championed subways over light rail transit. Similarly, he implemented cost-cutting measures left and right, including freezing property taxes, reducing council expenses, and privatizing garbage collection. Whether you loved him or hated him, you couldn’t ignore him. Rob and his famous politician family left a lasting impression on the city of Toronto.

Rob has a tumultuous relationship with the media. He was infamous for declining interviews. Yet, he received worldwide recognition and appeared on talk shows, making him one of the most famous people from Toronto. Regrettably, he died as a result of a rare kind of cancer, but his legacy as one of Toronto’s most distinctive mayors lives on.