George Ben
Encyclopedia
George Ben was an Ontario
lawyer and political figure. He represented Bracondale
and then Humber in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
from 1965 as a Liberal member until his defeat in the 1971 provincial election
. Ben was a member of Toronto City Council
in the early 1960s, representing Ward 5, and returned to council in the 1972 municipal election
. He was re-elected for the final time in 1978, and died in office on December 17, 1978.
, the son of John Ben. Ben was educated in Toronto
, at the University of Toronto
and was trained as lawyer at Osgoode Hall Law School
. He served in World War II
in the Royal Canadian Air Force
as a gunner in a bomber. In 1952, he married Ruby Elizabeth Hall.
, but lost.
In 1965, after the death of Liberal MPP Joseph Gould
, he won the Liberal Party of Ontario's nomination for the Bracondale constituency. He won the September 15 by-election, becoming the last MPP from Bracondale, as the constituency was redistributed out of existence for the 1967 Ontario general election.
He decided to run in the Humber constituency in 1967, which did not contain any part of his previous one. The constituency was located in Toronto's west-end, incorporating the old village of Swansea, parts of Etobiocke, and the City of York. He was up against a three-term Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
incumbent, Beverley Lewis – the former five-term Reeve of the old Etobicoke Township. Ben won a very tight race, but not as was expected. He unseated Lewis, but the real surprise was that the incumbent came in third place. Ben narrowly defeated New Democratic Party of Ontario (NDP) candidate Kealey Cummings by 148 votes.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
lawyer and political figure. He represented Bracondale
Bracondale
Bracondale was a provincial electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1926 to 1967. It's most notable achievement, was electing one of two women Members of the Provincial Parliament to share the title "first-woman MPP" in 1943...
and then Humber in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Legislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
from 1965 as a Liberal member until his defeat in the 1971 provincial election
Ontario general election, 1971
The Ontario general election of 1971 was held on October 21, 1971, to elect the 117 members of the 29th Legislative Assembly of Ontario of the Province of Ontario, Canada....
. Ben was a member of Toronto City Council
Toronto City Council
The Toronto City Council is the governing body of the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors....
in the early 1960s, representing Ward 5, and returned to council in the 1972 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 1972
The 1972 Toronto municipal election was held December 4, 1972 to elect the governments of Toronto, the five other boroughs, and the government of Metro Toronto as well....
. He was re-elected for the final time in 1978, and died in office on December 17, 1978.
Background
He was born in SlovakiaSlovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, the son of John Ben. Ben was educated in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, at the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and was trained as lawyer at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
. He served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
as a gunner in a bomber. In 1952, he married Ruby Elizabeth Hall.
Political career
Ben was first elected to Toronto City Council in 1962, representing Ward 5, placing first, which meant he was also concurrently a member of Metropolitan Toronto Council. In 1964, he ran for Toronto's Board of ControlBoard of Control
In municipal government a Board of Control is an executive body that usually deals with financial and administrative matters. The idea is that a small body of four or five people is better able to make certain decisions than a large, unwieldy city council...
, but lost.
In 1965, after the death of Liberal MPP Joseph Gould
Joseph Gould (Ontario politician)
Joseph M. Gould was an Ontario municipal and provincial politician. He was a trail lawyer in private life. Gould was first the alderman for the City of Toronto's Ward 5 in the 1950s and was the Ontario Liberal Party's Member of Provincial Parliament for the Bracondale electoral district in...
, he won the Liberal Party of Ontario's nomination for the Bracondale constituency. He won the September 15 by-election, becoming the last MPP from Bracondale, as the constituency was redistributed out of existence for the 1967 Ontario general election.
He decided to run in the Humber constituency in 1967, which did not contain any part of his previous one. The constituency was located in Toronto's west-end, incorporating the old village of Swansea, parts of Etobiocke, and the City of York. He was up against a three-term Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario , is a right-of-centre political party in Ontario, Canada. The party was known for many years as "Ontario's natural governing party." It has ruled the province for 80 of the years since Confederation, including an uninterrupted run from 1943 to 1985...
incumbent, Beverley Lewis – the former five-term Reeve of the old Etobicoke Township. Ben won a very tight race, but not as was expected. He unseated Lewis, but the real surprise was that the incumbent came in third place. Ben narrowly defeated New Democratic Party of Ontario (NDP) candidate Kealey Cummings by 148 votes.