NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Mel Lastman

Melvin Douglas (Mel) Lastman (born March 9, 1933) is a former businessman and politician. He served as the mayor of the former city of North York, Ontario, Canada from 1972 until 1997. In 1997, North York, along with four other municipalities, amalgamated with the city of Toronto. Lastman ran for and won the mayoral race for the new "megacity", beating incumbent Toronto mayor Barbara Hall. Re-elected in November 2000, he served until his retirement after the 2003 municipal election. January 1 is the first day of the calendar year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Barbara Hall (born 1946) is a Canadian lawyer, public servant and former politician. ... David Raymond Miller (born December 26, 1958) is a Canadian politician. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (69th in Leap years). ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... Salesman is a 1969 cinema verité documentary film which follows four salesmen of expensive Bibles door-to-door in a low-income neighborhood which cannot afford expensive Bibles. ... The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party of Ontario) is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. ... March 9 is the 68th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (69th in leap years). ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... North York forms the central part of the northern half of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Motto: Ut Incepit Fidelis Sic Permanet (Loyal she began, loyal she remains) Other Canadian provinces and territories Capital Toronto Largest city Toronto Lieutenant Governor James K. Bartleman Premier Dalton McGuinty (Liberal) Area 1,076,395 km² (4th) - Land 917,741 km² - Water 158,654 km² (14. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Barbara Hall (born 1946) is a Canadian lawyer, public servant and former politician. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Toronto municipal election of 2003 was held on November 10, 2003. ...

The early years

Mel Lastman was born in Toronto in 1933, the son of Jewish immigrants from Poland. He began his sales career as a child, hawking fruit and vegetables at his family's Kensington Market grocery store. For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... Kensington market in downtown Toronto Kensington Market is one of the most famous neighbourhoods in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

He met Marilyn Bornstein when he was 16 and she was 13, and they were married five years later. He left school after Grade 12 and, with Marilyn's help, got a job at a College Street furniture store. He quickly established himself as a successful salesman and, at age 22, bought an appliance store on Weston Road where he established Bad Boy Furniture in 1955. A typical College street sign in Little Italy, Toronto College Street is a main east-west route in downtown Toronto, Canada. ... Weston Road is a north-south street in west end Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Lastmans Bad Boy is a Canadian furniture business headquartered in Weston with five other locations in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. ...

He adopted the nickname "the Bad Boy" for himself and developed Bad Boy Furniture into a chain of stores around the Toronto area. "Bad Boy" Lastman was associated with many publicity stunts, including travelling to the Arctic in the 1960s to "sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo." The red line indicates the 10°C isotherm in July, commonly used to define the Arctic region border The Arctic is the area around the Earths North Pole. ... Distribution of Inuit language variants across the Arctic. ...

Lastman sold the chain in 1975 to run for Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Progressive Conservative candidate. That provincial election was his only election loss throughout his career. The Bad Boy trademark was ultimately acquired by the large furniture chain The Brick but the new owners allowed it to lapse through lack of use until it expired. The Provincial Parliament of Ontario, is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario. ... The Ontario Progressive Conservative Party (PC Party of Ontario) is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. ... The Ontario legislature after the 1975 general election The Ontario general election of 1975 was held on September 18, 1975, to elect the 125 members of the Legislative Assembly (Members of Provincial Parliament, or MPPs) of the Province of Ontario, Canada. ...

In 1991, Lastman's son Blayne and several friends re-launched the chain, over the objections of his father, who felt the economic climate was unsatisfactory. The store was soon memorable to most Southern Ontario television viewers who saw its commercials. The ads featured Lastman in a cameo appearance, Blayne in a prison suit, and always ended with the line: "Who's better than Bad Boy?... Nooooooobody!" 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1993, Lastman saw Clinton impersonator Tim Waters on television, and shortly afterwards contacted him and arranged for a commercial to be shot. The commercial featured Waters dressed as Clinton delivering the classic Nooooooobody! line. While merely a mildly amusing commercial to most of the viewing public, Lastman's move did attract some attention, as he soon received a letter from the White House requesting that he "cease and desist all unauthorized use of the likeness of the President of the United States of America in advertising of commercial services and products".[1] Lastman refused to stop airing the commercials, and even produced several more, featuring both Waters and a Hilary Clinton impersonator. "Last time I checked," Lastman quipped, "this was Canada, not the 51st state." 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... Cease-and-desist is a legal term meaning essentially stop: It is used in demands for a person or organization to stop doing something (to cease and desist from doing it). ... For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... A U.S. 51 star flag has been designed in case of a 51st state actually joining the United States. ...

North York Mayor

Lastman entered politics in 1969 when he ran for and was elected to the North York Board of Control. It was there he met another young motivated rising political figure, Paul Godfrey, who would later serve as Metro Chairman. Image File history File linksMetadata MelLastman. ... Image File history File linksMetadata MelLastman. ... This article or section contains information that has not been verified and thus might not be reliable. ... Nathan Phillips Square, 2005 Nathan Phillips Square is a city square that forms the front (south) entrance to Toronto City Hall or New City Hall at Queen Street West and Bay Street (its address is 100 Queen West). ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... In municipal government a Board of Control is an executive body that usually deals with financial and administrative matters. ... Paul Victor Godfrey (born 1939 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Canadian politician and businessman. ... The Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto or Metro Chairman was the leader of Metropolitan Toronto and the most senior politican figure in the municipality. ...

In 1972, he was elected mayor of North York. As duties in public life mounted, Lastman eventually transferred control of his Bad Boy Furniture chain to others, and began devoting all of his efforts to governing.

Lastman was supported by many in North York for operating that city efficiently and effectively, and for keeping property taxes low. As a result of his efforts to promote development around Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue, the area unofficially became known as the "new downtown" with many office towers and condos springing up in a formerly suburban area. Mel Lastman Square at the North York Civic Centre is named after him. A sign for Yonge Street at the intersection with Maitland Street. ... Sheppard Avenue is an east-west arterial road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, centering on the former city of North York. ...

Lastman joined the Ontario Liberal Party in 1987, although he subsequently claimed that it was the result of a misunderstanding. He agreed to support Norman Gardner's bid for the Liberal nomination in Willowdale, and did not realize that he was also purchasing a party membership card in the process. He did not regret his accidental membership, but said he had no long-term loyalty to the party (Globe and Mail, 28 April 1987). The Ontario Liberal Party is a center-right provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. ... Norman Gardner is a politician and administrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

Lastman was a critic of Metropolitan Toronto's Metro Hall, attacking Metro Council's decision to locate the $220 million building downtown. He argued that it would be more equitable and would have been much cheaper to build the headquarters in the suburbs. Metro Hall was later passed over in favour of City Hall for the future amalgamated city of Toronto. An attempt to put it up for sale only received a maximum bid of $125 million which was far below the construction cost. The Metro Centre Metro Hall Metro Hall is an office tower on Wellington and John St. ... Toronto City Hall The upper left hand corner of this picture is where Toronto City Hall would be built. ...

Throughout Lastman's political career, he was generally supported by the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals, such as Norman Gardner, Mike Colle, Mike Feldman, Joe Volpe, and David Shiner. Though normally opposed by the New Democratic Party, he did cross party lines to work with councillors Jack Layton and Olivia Chow. Norman Gardner is a politician and administrator in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Michael (Mike) Colle (born February 1, 1945 in Foggia, Italy) is a politician in Ontario, Canada. ... Mike Feldman (born 1928?) is a councillor (Ward 10, York Centre) and Deputy Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... This article is about the Canadian politician. ... David Shiner is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada. ... John Gilbert Jack Layton, PC, MP, PhD (born July 18, 1950) is a social democratic Canadian politician and current leader of Canadas New Democratic Party (since 2003). ... Olivia Chow (é„’è‡³è•™, pinyin: ZÅu ZhÃ¬huÃ¬) (born March 24, 1957) is a social democratic Canadian Member of Parliament and former city councillor (1991-2005) in Toronto. ...

Megacity Mayor

In 1997, Lastman's position was abolished when the provincial government under Mike Harris amalgamated North York with Scarborough, York, East York, Etobicoke, and the existing City of Toronto, creating a single-tier "megacity" which was also called the City of Toronto. Michael Deane Harris (born January 23, 1945, in Toronto, Ontario) was the twenty-second Premier of Ontario from June 26, 1995 to April 15, 2002. ... North York forms the central part of the northern half of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Country Canada Province Ontario Established 1 January 1850 (township) 1 January 1967 (borough) Incorporated Amalgamation June 1983 (city) 1 January 1998 Government - Mayor David Miller (Toronto Mayor) - Governing Body Toronto City Council - MPs John Cannis, Jim Karygiannis, Derek Lee, John McKay, Dan McTeague, Tom Wappel - MPPs Bas Balkissoon, Lorenzo Berardinetti... York is a very diverse and vibrant community in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... The East York Civic Centre, the former City Hall East York is a former suburb of Toronto, which was a borough of Metropolitan Toronto before it was amalgamated into the megacity of Toronto in 1998. ... Country Canada Province Ontario Established 1 January 1850 (township) 1 January 1967 (borough) Incorporated Amalgamation June 1983 (city) 1 January 1998 Government - Mayor David Miller (Toronto Mayor) - Governing Body Toronto City Council - MPs Roy Cullen, Michael Ignatieff, Borys Wrzesnewskyj - MPPs Shafiq Qaadri, Donna Cansfield, Laurel Broten Area - Disolved city 123. ... In the Canadian province of Ontario, there are three different types of census divisions: single-tier municipalities, upper-tier municipalities (which can be regional municipalities or counties) and districts. ...

Lastman ran for the mayoralty of the new "megacity" against incumbent Toronto Mayor Barbara Hall. Lastman's electoral victory was credited to his very strong base of support in the suburban cities, namely North York as well as in Etobicoke and Scarborough. Hall had won the majority of the vote in old Toronto, York and East York. Barbara Hall (born 1946) is a Canadian lawyer, public servant and former politician. ...

The mayor gained national attention after multiple snowstorms, including the Blizzard of 1999, dumped 118 cm of snow and effectively closed the city^[1]. Mel Lastman proceeded to have the Canadian Forces (Army) aid in helping to shovel snow, and use their equipment to augment police and emergency services. Some argued that it was absurb to have the military to help with the snow. The blizzard of 1999 was a strong winter snowstorm which struck the Midwest, hitting hardest in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, dumping as much as 2 feet of snow in many areas. ... The Canadian Forces (French: Forces canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC), are the combined armed forces of Canada. ...

Some expected that Lastman would face right-wing Independent federal MP John Nunziata in the 2000 municipal election, but Nunziata nixed the rumours when he was found that he could not hold onto his seat in Parliament while campaigning for Mayor. The House of Commons (French: Chambre des communes) is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign (represented by the Governor General) and the Senate. ... John Nunziata (born January 4, 1955) is a Canadian politician. ...

Re-elected in November 2000, with an 80% majority, his closest opponent, civic activist Tooker Gomberg, drew just a little more than 8% of the vote. Tooker Gomberg was a Canadian politician and environmental activist. ...

Lastman shared Gomberg's three main campaign planks: committing Toronto to 100% recycling diversion by 2010 to replace the controversial Adams Mine plan, agreeing with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to end homelessness in Toronto, and appointing Jane Jacobs, the ethicist and urbanist to head the Toronto Charter Committee to explore the potential for more autonomy for Toronto. Jacobs had publicly endorsed Gomberg. The international recycling symbol. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Adams Mine is an abandoned open pit mine in Boston Township near Kirkland Lake, Ontario, which was the cornerstone of a controversial waste management plan in the 1990s. ... Joseph Jacques Jean ChrÃ©tien, usually known as Jean ChrÃ©tien, PC, QC, BA, BCL, LLD (h. ... A homeless person in Paris. ... Jane Jacobs Jane Jacobs, OC, O.Ont (May 4, 1916 â€“ April 25, 2006) was an American-born Canadian urbanist, writer and activist. ... The term Province of Toronto has two senses: one political and one ecclesiastical. ...

Among his accomplishments as mayor of Toronto, Lastman brought World Youth Day to Toronto in 2002. He also succeeded in pushing the construction of the Sheppard TTC line, the first new subway line in decades. The World Youth Day 2002 was a Catholic youth festival held in Toronto, Canada from July 23 to July 28, 2002. ... The Sheppard Line is the newest subway line line in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Toronto Transit Commission. ...

Lastman was criticized for not being able to control city council, and for being too close to lobbyists. The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... It has been suggested that Interest representation: Academic overview be merged into this article or section. ...

Retirement from public life

On January 14, 2003, Lastman announced that he would not run for re-election, citing deteriorating health.

On November 10, 2003, David Miller was elected out of a field of five leading candidates to succeed Lastman as city mayor. November 10 is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 51 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... David Raymond Miller (born December 26, 1958) is a Canadian politician. ...

Mel Lastman continues to live in Toronto with his wife and returned to leading the Lastman's Bad Boy Furniture chain in May 2006. Lastmans Bad Boy is a Canadian furniture business headquartered in Weston with five other locations in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Controversies

For his earliest television commercials, Lastman was a charismatic, in-your-face media presence. He was also an outspoken politician, a trait that was sometimes problematic and gaffe-prone, but that also endeared him to many Toronto residents.

Eatons was once Canadas largest department store retailer. ... In accordance with Wikipedia convention for articles on television stations, this article is titled with the stations official government-assigned call sign. ... Adam Vaughan (born ca. ... bumbasa is the second largest city in Kenya, lying on the Indian Ocean. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will be a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... Stamp The International Olympic Committee is an organization based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin and Demetrios Vikelas on June 23, 1894 to reinstate the Ancient Olympic Games held in Greece between 776 BC to 396 AD. Its membership is 203 National Olympic Committees. ... Richard W. Pound, OC, OQ (born March 22, 1942) is a partner of leading Canadian law firm Stikeman Elliott and the chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) based in Montreal. ... Hells Angels New York City The Hells Angels is a motorcycle club formed in 1948 in Fontana, California, where the local chapter remains active. ...

References

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a Canadian crown corporation, is the countryâ€™s national public radio and television broadcaster. ...

External links

Categories: 1933 births | Canadian Jews | Living people | Mayors of Toronto | Mayors of North York | Metro Toronto councillors Image File history File links Wikiquote-logo-en. ... Wikiquote is a sister project of Wikipedia, using the same MediaWiki software. ... A list of North York mayors and reeves: 1929-1930 James Muirhead, Reeve 1931-1933 George B. Elliott, Reeve 1934-1940 R. Earl Bales, Reeve - Earl Bales Park was named in his honour 1941-1949 George H. Mitchell, Reeve 1950-1952 N.A. Boylen, Reeve 1953-1956 Fred J. McMahon... Barbara Hall (born 1946) is a Canadian lawyer, public servant and former politician. ... This is a list of mayors of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... David Raymond Miller (born December 26, 1958) is a Canadian politician. ... This is a list of mayors of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... William Lyon Mackenzie (March 12, 1795 â€“ August 28, 1861) was a Canadian journalist, politician, and leader of an unsuccessful rebellion. ... Robert Baldwin Sullivan (24 May 1802 â€“ 14 April 1853), was a Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician who became the 2nd Mayor of Toronto. ... Thomas David Morrison (ca. ... Portrait of George Gurnett by Paul Kane, 1845. ... John Powell (June 19, 1809-February 24, 1881) was a Canadian politician who served as mayor of Toronto and played an important role in the Upper Canada Rebellion. ... George Monro (1801 â€“ January 5, 1878) was a businessman and political figure in Canada West. ... Henry Sherwood (1807 – July 7, 1855) was a lawyer, businessman, militia officer and politician in Upper Canada. ... William Henry Boulton (April 19, 1812 â€“ February 15, 1874) was a lawyer and political figure in Canada West. ... Portrait of George Gurnett by Paul Kane, 1845. ... John George Bowes (ca 1812â€“May 20, 1864) was a businessman and political figure in Canada East. ... George Allan For the Canadian Member of Parliament born in 1860, see George William Allan (Canadian MP). ... John Beverley Robinson (1820-1896) was elected mayor of Toronto in 1856. ... William Henry Boulton (April 19, 1812 â€“ February 15, 1874) was a lawyer and political figure in Canada West. ... Sir Adam Wilson (September 22, 1814 â€“ December 28, 1891) was a lawyer, judge and political figure in Canada West. ... John George Bowes (ca 1812â€“May 20, 1864) was a businessman and political figure in Canada East. ... Angus Morrison Source: Library and Archives Canada Angus Morrison (January 20, 1822 â€“ June 10, 1882) was an Ontario lawyer and political figure. ... James Beaty Q.C. (10 November 1831-15 March 1899) was a mayor of Toronto from 1879 to 1880. ... William Holmes Howland (1844-1893) was Mayor of Toronto from 1886 to 1887. ... Edward Frederick Clarke (April 24, 1850 â€“ March 3, 1905) was an Ontario journalist and political figure. ... Robert John Fleming (November 23, 1854 - October 26, 1925) was twice Mayor of Toronto (1892-1893 and 2nd incumbency 1896â€“1897) Born in Toronto, Robert John Fleming was of Irish ancestry, the son of William and Jane (Cauldwell) Fleming. ... Robert John Fleming (November 23, 1854 - October 26, 1925) was twice Mayor of Toronto (1892-1893 and 2nd incumbency 1896â€“1897) Born in Toronto, Robert John Fleming was of Irish ancestry, the son of William and Jane (Cauldwell) Fleming. ... John Shaw (1837-1917) was Mayor of Toronto from 1897 until 1899. ... Thomas Urquhart (April 16, 1858 - February 16, 1931) was a Canadian politician and mayor of Toronto. ... George Reginald Geary, mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1910 to 1912. ... Horatio Clarence Hocken Horatio Clarence Hocken (12 October 1857 â€“ 18 February 1937) was a Canadian politician and Mayor of Toronto. ... Thomas Langton Tommy Church (1870 - February 7, 1950) was a Canadian politician. ... Charles A. Maguire (May 24, 1876 -?) was mayor of Toronto (1922-1923). ... William W. Hiltz was Mayor of Toronto in 1924. ... Thomas Foster (July 24, 1852 â€“ December 10, 1945) was the Mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada from 1925 to 1927. ... Picture of portrait painted by J. Russell of Mayor Sam McBride Samuel (Sam) McBride (July 13, 1866 â€“ November 10, 1936) was a two-time Mayor of Toronto serving his first term from 1928 to 1929 and his second term in 1936 which ended prematurely due to his death. ... Bert Wemp, c. ... William James Stewart was a Canadian politician. ... James Jimmy Simpson was a Canadian trade unionist and left wing politician in Toronto, Ontario. ... Picture of portrait painted by J. Russell of Mayor Sam McBride Samuel (Sam) McBride (July 13, 1866 â€“ November 10, 1936) was a two-time Mayor of Toronto serving his first term from 1928 to 1929 and his second term in 1936 which ended prematurely due to his death. ... William D. Robbins was the 45th Mayor of Toronto from 1936 to 1937. ... Ralph Day (1898â€“May 21, 1976) is a former mayor of Toronto, Ontario (1938 to 1940). ... Frederick Joseph Conboy (January 1, 1883-March 29, 1949) was a Canadian politician, who served as mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1941 to 1944. ... Robert Hood Saunders, Q.C.,CBE, (1901â€“January 15, 1955), mayor of Toronto 1945 to 1948 , President of the Canadian National Exhibition, chairman of the Ontario Hydro (formally named the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPCO). ... Hiram E. McCallum (1900 - January 13, 1989) was a mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1948-1951. ... Allan Lamport (right) officially opening Torontos subway in 1954 with Premier Leslie Frost Allan Austin Lamport (1904-1999) was Mayor of Toronto, Canada, from 1952 to 1954. ... Leslie Howard (Les) Saunders was Mayor of Toronto from 1954 to 1955 and the last member of the Orange Order to hold the position until William Dennison. ... For other people named Nathan Phillips, see Nathan Phillips (disambiguation) Nathan Phillips, KC (November 7, 1892 â€“ January 7, 1976) was a Canadian politician and popular Mayor of Toronto, Ontario. ... Donald Dean Summerville (1915[1] â€“ November 19, 1963) was an east-end municipal politician in Toronto, Canada, and served as Mayor of Toronto, briefly, until his death. ... Philip Gerald Givens (born April 24, 1922) is a former Mayor of Toronto, Canada, Member of Parliament and judge. ... William Dennison (1905-1981) was the last member of the Orange Order to serve as Mayor of Toronto, Canada. ... David Edward Crombie (born 1936) is a Canadian politician and professor and consultant. ... Fred Beavis was a longtime city councillor in Toronto, Ontario, who briefly served as acting mayor of the city in 1978. ... For other people and things named Sewell, see Sewell (disambiguation). ... Arthur (Art) C. Eggleton, PC (born September 29, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario) is a former Canadian Cabinet minister and Mayor of Toronto, and is currently a Senator representing Ontario. ... June Rowlands was the 67th mayor of Toronto, Ontario, and the first woman to hold that office (beginning in 1991). ... Barbara Hall (born 1946) is a Canadian lawyer, public servant and former politician. ... David Raymond Miller (born December 26, 1958) is a Canadian politician. ...

Contents

The early years GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");