Martin L. Dobkin
Encyclopedia
Martin L. Dobkin was the first mayor of the City of Mississauga, Ontario
(1974–1976). He was succeeded by Ron A. Searle
.
The Dr. Martin Dobkin Park in Mississauga is named in his honour.
in 1942. The son of Irving and Mary Dobkin, he was the eldest of 4 boys. He attended Essex St. Public School. In 1955, at the age of 13 years, he moved to Cobourg, Ontario with his family. He attended Cobourg and District Collegiate Institute. He grauduated from Queen's University Medical School in 1966. This was followed by an internship at the Montreal General Hospital and then a one year residency in pediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
In 1968 he married Michele Bitton and began his medical practice as a family physician in Mississauga. He became a member of the active staff at the Mississauga Hospital. In 1970 Dr. Dobkin was appointed as Coroner in the Region of Peel.
On October 1, 1973, as a political novice, he was elected as the first Mayor of the newly created City of Mississauga. At 31 years of age, Dr. Dobkin became the youngest person in Canada to be elected mayor of a large city. He served a 3 year term as Mayor of Mississauga and also as a Councillor on the Region of Peel Council.
. The residents of the City of Mississauga wanted change, and change is what they got.
The term of the first Council was very prolific, creative and productive in its many achievements. The most important of these was the initiation and creation of a new and comprehensive Official Plan for the new City. This Plan provided the blueprint for the future large-scale development of the City into one of the finest municipalities in Canada.
Numerous properties were purchased to provide the green space and parklands for the new City. These included the acquisitions of the Rattray Marsh, Adamson House, Cawthra Elliott Estate, Jack Darling Park, Morning Dew Park, Cooksville Creek Lands and the CVCA parkland at the mouth of the Credit River.
Libraries that were built or completed were the magnificent Burnhamthorpe Library, Lorne Park Library, and the Lakeview Library. The Malton Community Centre and the Burnhamthorpe Community Centres were created and built.
During Dobkin's era, Mississauga Transit
was significantly enlarged, adding a state-of-the-art transit headquarters on Central Parkway West, and Canada's first articulated bus
es.
Other infrastructure projects, too numerous to mention, were initiated and completed.
Dr. Dobkin worked in the Emergency Dept. of the Mississauga Hospital (now Trillium Health Centre) on a part-time basis for 20 years. For the first 17 years in practice, he delivered several hundred newborns. He held the position of Medical Director at the Tyndall Nursing Home from 1976-1984. He served on various committees at the Mississauga Hospital and has been a member of the Dept. of Family Practice since 1968.
In 2003, after being injured in a car accident, he reduced his practice to a part-time basis. He still continues to serve his many longtime patients.
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....
(1974–1976). He was succeeded by Ron A. Searle
Ron A. Searle
Ron Searle was the second mayor of Mississauga, Ontario.-Early life:He was born in Southampton, England on July 19, 1919 to Ruby and Alfred Searle. He was later joined by a sister, Barbara. His mother Ruby was a seamstress and his father Alfred was a seaman with the White Star Line and the Royal...
.
The Dr. Martin Dobkin Park in Mississauga is named in his honour.
Early life
Dr. Martin L. Dobkin was born in TorontoToronto
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...
in 1942. The son of Irving and Mary Dobkin, he was the eldest of 4 boys. He attended Essex St. Public School. In 1955, at the age of 13 years, he moved to Cobourg, Ontario with his family. He attended Cobourg and District Collegiate Institute. He grauduated from Queen's University Medical School in 1966. This was followed by an internship at the Montreal General Hospital and then a one year residency in pediatrics at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
In 1968 he married Michele Bitton and began his medical practice as a family physician in Mississauga. He became a member of the active staff at the Mississauga Hospital. In 1970 Dr. Dobkin was appointed as Coroner in the Region of Peel.
On October 1, 1973, as a political novice, he was elected as the first Mayor of the newly created City of Mississauga. At 31 years of age, Dr. Dobkin became the youngest person in Canada to be elected mayor of a large city. He served a 3 year term as Mayor of Mississauga and also as a Councillor on the Region of Peel Council.
The First Council (1973-1976)
Dobkin was swept into office as the head of a "reform council" which included other newcomers such as Mary-Helen Spence, David Culham, Hubert Wolf, Kaye Killaby and Hazel McCallionHazel McCallion
Hazel McCallion, née Joueneaux, CM is the mayor of Mississauga, Ontario. McCallion has been Mississauga's mayor for years, holding office since 1978...
. The residents of the City of Mississauga wanted change, and change is what they got.
The term of the first Council was very prolific, creative and productive in its many achievements. The most important of these was the initiation and creation of a new and comprehensive Official Plan for the new City. This Plan provided the blueprint for the future large-scale development of the City into one of the finest municipalities in Canada.
Numerous properties were purchased to provide the green space and parklands for the new City. These included the acquisitions of the Rattray Marsh, Adamson House, Cawthra Elliott Estate, Jack Darling Park, Morning Dew Park, Cooksville Creek Lands and the CVCA parkland at the mouth of the Credit River.
Libraries that were built or completed were the magnificent Burnhamthorpe Library, Lorne Park Library, and the Lakeview Library. The Malton Community Centre and the Burnhamthorpe Community Centres were created and built.
During Dobkin's era, Mississauga Transit
Mississauga Transit
MiWay , is a public transport agency serving Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The city's Transportation and Works department is in charge of its operation....
was significantly enlarged, adding a state-of-the-art transit headquarters on Central Parkway West, and Canada's first articulated bus
Articulated bus
An articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
es.
Other infrastructure projects, too numerous to mention, were initiated and completed.
Professional life
In 1968, Dr. Martin Dobkin began practising Family Medicine in Cooksville in the practice of Drs. Ann and J. D. Smith. In 1970, he left this practice and opened up his own office in Applewood Hills. In 1978, he purchased a property at the corner of Hwy. #10 and Central Parkway West and in conjunction with Dr. K. Malicki, founded the City Centre Family Physician Clinic. The clinic soon grew to 7 family doctors, the largest family practice clinic in South Mississauga. In 1992, a new comprehensive medical building was constructed on the site and the practice continued there.Dr. Dobkin worked in the Emergency Dept. of the Mississauga Hospital (now Trillium Health Centre) on a part-time basis for 20 years. For the first 17 years in practice, he delivered several hundred newborns. He held the position of Medical Director at the Tyndall Nursing Home from 1976-1984. He served on various committees at the Mississauga Hospital and has been a member of the Dept. of Family Practice since 1968.
In 2003, after being injured in a car accident, he reduced his practice to a part-time basis. He still continues to serve his many longtime patients.