WATCHDOG: New park and memorial plaque honours the memory of True Davidson

JOE COOPER

October 2, 2009

On Tuesday, a group of dedicated East Yorkers gathered by a newly installed plaque located near the S. Walter Stewart library.

As the cold rain came down, a small ceremony was performed to dedicate that memorial plaque to the memory of East York's first Mayor, Jean Gertrude "True" Davidson.

The text of the plaque outlines how Davidson's character, work and energy helped to create a vibrant and progressive community of modern East York. Of all of the many accomplishments that were made during Davidson's life, her most important talent was her ability to make community building a truly inclusive process.

True Davidson, like most people in East York, was not born in the community, but came to it in 1947, looking for an affordable home. Once she arrived she was not even sure that she wanted to stay, but what transformed her was the warmth and enthusiasm of people that she found here.

As a result of that warmth she became an impassioned supporter of the community, beginning with her involvement with the East York school board. There she battled with the staid and conservative male board members to ensure that the children of the community received the best education possible, while keeping the penny-pinchers happy.

Her positive influence upon the lives of so many families helped to propel her into municipal politics in 1958, when she was elected councillor with a landslide vote, and then as reeve from 1961 to 1966.

It was during that period that Davidson brought out the real potential of the community and established so many of the benefits that we now enjoy today. She did so not by the expenditure of large amounts of taxpayers' money, but by tapping the human potential of East York's citizens.

During her political tenure, Davidson created many important East York traditions, such as citizen volunteers, plus she utilized the fundraising ability of local service groups such as the Kiwanis to help construct the community buildings that we have come to enjoy today.

It was during that time that we gained libraries, parks, sports facilities and the East York Canada Day celebration.

More importantly and often forgotten today, during that period Davidson and the East York council stood up to developers and Metro Council to prevent the community from being blighted with unrestricted development.

Mayor True Davidson and East York council made the borough a "Garden of Eden" by putting citizens' interests first when it came to community planning and its resulting developments.

Due to the importance of True Davidson to East York's unique quality of life, the East York Historical Society undertook the creation of the plaque in her honour.

With the co-operation of Case Ootes (Ward 29 Toronto-Danforth) and the City of Toronto, the plaque resides on land that is now a new city park named after Davidson.

This is a fitting recognition for a woman whose greatest pride was being given the title "Grandmother of East York" by the Toronto media and thankful local citizens.