Davidson in 1972, after her retirement from politics
1st Mayor of East York
In office 1966–1972
Preceded by
Position established
Succeeded by
Willis Blair
9th Reeve of East York Township
In office 1961–1966
Preceded by
Jack R. Allen
Succeeded by
Position abolished
Personal details
Born
Jean Gertrude Davidson
(1901-04-19)19 April 1901 Hudson, Quebec
Died
18 September 1978(1978-09-18) (aged 77) East York, Ontario
Nationality
Canadian
Alma mater
Victoria College
Profession
Writer, editor
Jean Gertrude "True" Davidson, CM (19 April 1901 – 18 September 1978),[1] was a Canadian politician, teacher, and writer. She was the first mayor of the Borough of East York, Ontario, and she was one of Metropolitan Toronto's most colourful politicians in a career spanning nearly 25 years. She spent 10 years on the East York school board and 11 years as alderwoman, reeve and mayor on East York Council. During her time in municipal politics she ran in 11 elections and never lost.
She was born in Hudson, Quebec, the daughter of a Methodist minister. She was educated at the University of Toronto and then worked as a teacher. She worked as a writer, editing a 12-volume compendium of Canadiana by William Perkins Bull. After her parents died, she moved to East York where she quickly became involved in local politics. She became a school trustee in 1947 and later chair of the school board. In 1958 she ran for local council and served one term before being elected as reeve in 1960. In 1966, East York merged with Leaside and Davidson emerged as the winner in a runoff election for mayor against Leaside's reeve, Beth Nealson. Davidson stayed on as mayor for six years until she retired in 1972.
Davidson was inspired to join the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in the 1930s after meeting J.S. Woodsworth. She ran twice as a candidate for the party losing both times. She left the party after the CCF merged with the Canadian Labour Congress to form the New Democratic Party of Canada. In 1971 she ran for the Liberals in the 1971 provincial election but lost to incumbent Arthur Meen. In the last six years of her life she concentrated on writing a twice weekly column for the Toronto Sun and also focused her efforts on environmental conservation. She died in 1978 at the age of 77.
^McDuff, Gerald (20 April 1971). "True and 300 friends have fun at her 70th birthday bash". Toronto Star. p. 57.
Jean Gertrude "True" Davidson, CM (19 April 1901 – 18 September 1978), was a Canadian politician, teacher, and writer. She was the first mayor of the Borough...
small second floor visitor's gallery, named the TrueDavidson Chambers after former mayor TrueDavidson. The building is used for offices for various committees...
"No True Lies Sequel, Says Curtis". IGN. Archived from the original on February 5, 2005. Davidson, Paul (July 14, 2005). "Arnold Insists on True Lies...
favourite. In 2013, Davidson collaborated with fellow New Zealand musician Marlon Williams (of the Unfaithful Ways) for the album Sad But True – The Secret History...
Jermareo Davidson attended Wheeler High School in Marietta, Ga. Jermareo Davidson attended The University of Alabama from 2003–2007. Davidson was named...
program was established in Dorval-Lachine around the same time. The TrueDavidson Meals on Wheels programme was established in East Toronto in 1973, named...
James Cameron Davidson OBE (born 13 December 1953) is an English stand-up comedian, actor, singer and TV presenter. He hosted the television shows Big...
York in 2001. Between 2002 and 2005, the East York Civic Centre's "TrueDavidson Council Chamber" was used to hold the Toronto Computer Leasing Inquiry/Toronto...
of Leaside ran against TrueDavidson (the reeve of East York) for mayor of the amalgamated borough. Nealson lost to Davidson. In 1998, East York (including...
Ruth Elizabeth Davidson, Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links, PC (born 10 November 1978), is a Scottish politician who served as Leader of the Scottish...
Letalvis Cobbins, Lemaricus Davidson, and George Thomas) had multiple prior felony convictions. After a jury trial, Davidson was convicted and sentenced...
remained so until 1998. Mayors 1967-1972 TrueDavidson - With the merger of the towns of East York and Leaside, Davidson defeated Leaside reeve Beth Nealson...
with East York township in 1967. In 1966, Nealson ran and lost against TrueDavidson for the mayoralty of the newly formed borough of East York, in a historic...
the borough of East York in the 1972 municipal election, succeeding TrueDavidson, and took office on January 1, 1973. Blair was re-elected to a second...
interpretation used by Davidson: given the speaker's attitudes of holding particular sentences true in particular circumstances, the speaker's hold-true attitudes...
Michael Bliss, historian, author and Officer of the Order of Canada. TrueDavidson, former mayor of East York. William Dennison, former mayor of Toronto...
About Tomorrow Frank Davey 1940 Craig Davidson 1976 novelist, short stories Rust and Bone, Cataract City TrueDavidson 1901 1978 poet, fiction, non-fiction...
Toronto June Rowlands Barbara Hall Olivia Chow Toronto (East York) TrueDavidson Toronto (York) Gayle Christie Frances Nunziata London Dianne Haskett...
Progressive Conservatives in 2013 and again in a 2016 by-election. TrueDavidson - former Mayor of East York, was a CCF candidate a few times, but later...
according to a former parishioner he was a true pastor, willing to offer help whatever the circumstances. Davidson's family assumed that he would follow his...
$3,578 debt, that Thompson was asking be forgiven. East York Mayor TrueDavidson scolded council members for being "petty. This is a group that is doing...
a junior and senior at punter. Davidson began his career at Central Missouri solely as a punter and redshirted his true freshman year. As a redshirt freshman...
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