Two articles of interest from Jonathan Giggs for Mississauga South Historical Society newsletter. And: I support John Danahy as the next Ward 1 Councillor!

Following text (which I’ve broken into shorter paragraphs) is from Jonathan Giggs of Mississauga:

First article: Completion of term for Ward 1 Councillor

Mississauga Councillors appointed Dave Cook at the Council meeting on February 21 to complete the term as Ward 1 Councillor caused by the untimely death of Jim Tovey. Tovey died following a medical emergency on the evening of January 15 while driving home via Hurontario Street after attending a Planning and Development Committee meeting.

Cook defeated Tovey’s friend and neighbour John Danahy 6-5, gaining the support of Councillors George Carlson, Carolyn Parrish, Pat Saito, Sue McFadden, Matt Mahoney and Ron Starr. Danahy, Landscape Architect and Professor Emeritus at University of Toronto, had the support of Mayor Bonnie Crombie and Councillors Chris Fonseca, John Kovac, Nando Iannicca and Karen Ras.

Interesting that the deciding vote for Cook was cast by Starr, the two-term Ward 6 Councillor, as they were adversaries in the City of Mississauga’s fourth election on November 10, 1980. Starr had served one term in Ward 7 defeating incumbent Terry Butt in 1978, but was bested by Cook 2,485 to 2,044. The battleground of this Applewood Acres versus Sherway skirmish is now a northern extension of Ward 1.

The City employed a computer system for the first time, supposedly to count the ballots quicker. The primitive machines apparently overloaded, and the final results expected by 10 pm were delayed to the early hours of the morning. T.L. Kennedy Secondary School was the place to wait then for the official results.

The highlight for the successful candidates was the tradition of standing on stage and saying a few words of wisdom or thanks to those gathered. Cook anticipated a close race, and waited until he was certain that he was victorious. When he arrived at the school, everyone had gone home!

Cook defeated John Hopkins on November 8, 1982 by a wide margin, 4436 to 1210. On November 12, 1985, Cook’s 3577 votes were more than the combined votes of his two challengers, Greg Dell with 1219 and Angelo Gaultieri 1143. Cook chose not to run in the 1988 election, and was replaced by Nando Iannicca, who is retiring this year.

Iannicca defeated Terry Butt’s son, Brad. But Cook didn’t always win. He was considered for a similar interim post in 1997 after the death of Frank McKechnie, but Mayor Hazel McCallion preferred the then retired former Ward 1 Councillor Harold Kennedy, and she got her way. Cook ran for Mayor in 2010 in McCallion’s last election and was a very distant second.

Cook is no stranger to the Mississauga South Historical Society and has attended many events in the past. The former newspaper reporter and radio broadcaster has written four books: Apple blossoms and satellite dishes: celebrating the golden jubilee of Applewood Acres (2004); From frozen ponds to Beehive glory: the story of Dixie Arena Gardens (2006); Fading history Vol. 1: stories of historical interest (2008) and Fading history Vol. 2: stories of historical interest (2010). In addition, he was awarded the Heritage Mississauga Award in 2009 and was a nominee for the 2010 Mississauga Arts Council Martys Award.

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Second Article: Jonathan Giggs moved to Toronto Township in 1966

I moved to the Township of Toronto on Monday October 31, 1966. My parents had been renting a house on the motel strip in Humber Bay, Etobicoke and were given 30-day’s notice by their landlord as redevelopment was imminent. This is true if a quarter-century is considered quick.

Photo accompanying second article, referred to at the post you are now reading. Source: Jonathan Giggs

My parents frantically searched for a house. Aided by a second mortgage by the vendor, they could afford, but barely, a 3-bedrom 1500 square foot bungalow on a quarter-acre lot at 1422 Myron Drive. My older brother and I went with my father with the moving truck, while my mother remained at the rented house with my younger brother.

As we excitedly raced around our new home. I encountered something that I had never seen previously in a house: an extension telephone. There was a black wall mounted rotary dial telephone in the kitchen as one might expect, but there was also another one that could be freely moved in the recreation room in the basement. I used this telephone and breathlessly called my mother: “Mum! Guess what? This house has two telephones!”

Later Bell Canada had a promotion were one could install six jacks for free, and soon telephones had populated bedrooms too. Children today, each with their own mobile device, might be as familiar with a landline as they are with a record store, and they might not know how to even operate a rotary dial telephone, the finger firmly rotating the dial and then the wait with that clicking sound.

And not only are the telephones historic, or archaic, many of the Mississauga South buildings that housed large families in apparent harmony are considered too small and unworthy of this generation. Infill development has demolished and replaced these residences with larger and more elaborate structures. So large that instead of announcing that dinner is ready from the kitchen, a text-message to all will do.

Please tell us about your first house and memories.

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You can contact Jonathan Giggs by sending me an email at jpull@preservedstories.com – I will pass the message on to him. Or you can contact him through the Mississauga South Historical Society.

Commentary: I support John Danahy as the next Ward 1 Councillor

I do not have a vote in the next Ward 1 election, as I am not a Mississauga resident. That being said, I strongly support John Danahy as the next Councillor for Ward 1.

I strongly support his candidacy because John Danahy has worked in close collaboration each step of the way, and over many years – right from the very first days, in fact – in the development, and refinement – in ongoing and consistent consultation with the wider community – of the innovative, leading-edge Mississauga waterfront projects that are closely and directly connected with Jim Tovey’s impressive and inspiring legacy.

A previous post, from Jan. 19, 2012 (that is, over six years ago), is entitled:

John Danahy has contributed in a major way to the success of the Lakeview Legacy Project

Click here for previous posts highlighting John Danahy’s collaborative efforts alongside Jim Tovey >