Lorna Jackson
1st Mayor of Vaughan
In office
1983–2002
Succeeded byMichael Di Biase
Vaughan Regional Councillor
Acting Mayor
In office
1981–1982
Preceded byGarnet Williams
Succeeded byMichael DiBiase
Personal details
BornOctober 27, 1935
DiedApril 5, 2002 (aged 66)
OccupationLocal Politician

Lorna Jackson (October 25, 1935 April 5, 2002) was a local politician in Vaughan for 28 years. During her career, she served as both a local and a regional councillor, as well as serving as the Mayor of Vaughan for 20 years. She died while in office in 2002.

Political career

Jackson was first elected as a councillor in 1974. She served six years until she was elected as a regional councillor in 1980. In 1982, Jackson was elected as the Town of Vaughan's second mayor.[1] Jackson led the city council and staff through much rapid growth, as well as the transition from a town into a city in 1991.[2] She continued to be re-elected as mayor for a total of seven terms until her death in 2002.[3]

In addition to her responsibilities as a member on the city council for Vaughan, Jackson also served on York Regional Council for 22 years.[4] She was a member of its health, finance, planning and economic development committees. Additionally, Jackson was a member of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, a former chair of the York Regional Police Services Board, served on the Greater Toronto Services Board, and a member of the board of directors of Hydro Vaughan Distribution Inc.[5]

Causes

Jackson successfully led the lobby to have the Ontario Minor Hockey Association make face protection for children mandatory in recreational hockey. She supported the construction of a pedestrian bridge over the Humber River. She also was instrumental in promoting the design of the Woodbridge Pool to make it easier for physically challenged residents to learn how to swim.

In her final years as mayor, Jackson sought to adjust the boundaries of the southern municipalities of York Region so that Markham's half of the community of Thornhill would be annexed into the city of Vaughan.

As a result of a lawsuit filed against the City of Toronto government for the Keele Valley Landfill, Jackson lead city council to close the site by the end of 2002.[6] Stating in 2000 that Vaughan was "no longer willing to host", the landfill was closed on January 1, 2003 and filled with four feet of clay and topsoil.[7][8]

Family

Jackson and her husband Al were married for 45 years. They had three children: Linda, Jim and Jeff, and five grandchildren: Carolyn, Lindsay, Lauren, John-Paul and Lucas.[5] Her daughter, Linda Jackson, was formerly Ward 2 Councillor, Regional Councillor, and Mayor for Vaughan.[1]

Death

In November 2000, as she was being re-elected for her seventh term, Jackson was diagnosed with cancer. On April 5, 2002, she succumbed to her battle with cancer, twenty years after first being elected mayor of Vaughan. Then MPP Greg Sorbara described her death as a "power vacuum".[9]

Legacy

Lorna Jackson Public School and Lorna Jackson Transformer Station are named for the late mayor. Additional, the new Vaughan City Hall, which opened in 2011, was dedicated in honour of Jackson's commitment to the city.[10]

Toronto–York Spadina subway extension (TYSSE) realized Jackson's 1988 campaign call to have the TTC subway extend north towards the 407 corridor.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Past Members of Council". www.vaughan.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  2. "Proud Mayor: Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson displays the sign declaring her once-rural municipality: now with 104:000 people: the first city in York Region. : Virtual Reference Library". Toronto Public Library. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  3. "Vaughan to mark mayor's death". Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  4. "April 08, 2002, City of Vaughan Mayor Lorna Jackson remembered for significant contribution to York". archives.york.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  5. 1 2 "News Archives". 2003-06-11. Archived from the original on 2003-06-11. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  6. "Keele Valley Landfill, 1983-2002- Toronto Life, December 2002". mattbeam.com. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  7. "archives". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  8. "archives". thestar.com. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  9. "Power vacuum seen for Vaughan". Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  10. "Vaughan Celebrates Official Opening of New City Hall". www.vaughan.ca. Retrieved 2018-02-06.
  11. "Growth tops Vaughan agenda - Transit Toronto - Newspaper Archive". transittoronto.ca.
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