June Rowlands facts for kids

Quick facts for kids June Rowlands
60th Mayor of Toronto
In office December 1, 1991 – November 30, 1994
Preceded by	Art Eggleton
Succeeded by	Barbara Hall
Personal details
Born	June Pendock (1924-05-14)May 14, 1924 Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada
Died	December 21, 2017(2017-12-21) (aged 93) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Political party	Independent (municipal)
Other political affiliations	Liberal (federal)
Spouse	Harry Rowlands (div.)
Children	5

June Rowlands (born June Pendock; May 14, 1924 – December 21, 2017) was an important Canadian politician. She made history as the 60th mayor of Toronto from 1991 to 1994. She was the first woman ever to be Toronto's mayor. Before becoming mayor, Rowlands also worked as a city councillor. She also led the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission.

June Rowlands: Early Life

June Pendock was born in 1924 in Saint-Laurent, Quebec. She grew up in the city of Toronto. June later studied and graduated from the University of Toronto. Before she started her career in public service, Rowlands worked for Bell Canada. She helped customers with their phone services.

In the 1970s, June Rowlands was very active in community groups. She worked with the Association of Women Electors. She also served on the National Council on Welfare. She was also the president of the Metro Family Service Association. June was a director on the board of the Central Mortgage and Housing Corp. She and her husband, Harry Rowlands, had five children together.

Becoming a Politician

June Rowlands began her political journey in 1976. She was elected to the Toronto City Council. She represented Ward 10, which included areas like Rosedale. In 1978, she received the most votes in her ward. This made her the senior alderman. It also meant she joined the Metro Council.

In the 1980s, June Rowlands joined the Toronto Transit Commission. She was the first woman to be a member of this group. This commission helps manage Toronto's public transportation. She tried to enter federal politics in 1984. She ran for the Liberal Party of Canada in a federal election. However, she was not elected.

Rowlands continued to serve on both Metro and Toronto City Councils. She left in 1988. After that, she was appointed to lead the Police Commission. She left this role in 1991.

June Rowlands: Mayor of Toronto

June Rowlands was elected mayor in 1991. Her election campaign focused on keeping the city safe. She won the election by a large number of votes. She became the first female mayor of Toronto.

One famous event during her time as mayor happened in 1991. A popular band called Barenaked Ladies was not allowed to perform. This was at the city's New Year's Eve show. The reason given was that the band's name might be offensive. Rowlands stated that city staff made this decision. She said it was not her personal choice.

After serving one term, Rowlands ran for re-election in 1994. She was defeated by Barbara Hall. After this, June Rowlands retired from politics.

Later Years and Legacy

June Rowlands passed away on December 21, 2017. She was 93 years old. She died peacefully in her sleep. This happened at a care facility in downtown Toronto.

Toronto's Mayor John Tory shared his sadness. Flags at Toronto City Hall were lowered to half-mast. This was done to honor June Rowlands.

June Rowlands Park

June Rowlands Park is a special place in Toronto. It used to be called Davisville Park. It was renamed in 2004 to honor June Rowlands. This was to recognize her hard work for the city. The park is located in an area she used to represent.

This park is a fun place for the community. It has a baseball field. There is also a children's playground. This playground is named after the famous children's entertainers Sharon, Lois and Bram. The park also has a wading pool. The Davisville Tennis Club uses six tennis courts there.