Toronto Reference Library Blog

When you cast your ballot on Monday October 25th, what will you be looking for in a mayor? The Urban Affairs Library has created a display of campaign literature from winning Toronto mayoral candidates over the past 40 years and it is fascinating to see what successful mayors listed as the qualities they could bring to the job.

There were some common themes: leadership; vision; integrity; experience; and accountability. Many candidates stressed the importance of balance, so there were calls for 'growth with stability', 'good government and services at a reasonable cost', and 'planning for the future while still meeting today's needs'. If you rolled all the pledges together you would have one formidable candidate: open and accessible, but decisive and willing to make hard choices; committed to maintaining the services we need while keeping taxes as low as possible; a promoter of Toronto's growth, but not at the expense of its character and existing neighbourhoods; and someone who can see the big picture while making Toronto a city that works for its citizens at a nitty gritty level.

The display of selected campaign literature will be on view on the main floor of the Toronto Reference Library until election day. To learn more about the personalities and issues that have shaped Toronto's recent past, come and see us in the Urban Affairs Library in Metro Hall.

When you cast your ballot on Monday October 25th, what will you be looking for in a mayor? The Urban Affairs Library has created a display of campaign literature from winning Toronto mayoral candidates over the past 40 years and it is fascinating to see what successful mayors listed as the qualities they could bring to the job.

There were some common themes: leadership; vision; integrity; experience; and accountability. Many candidates stressed the importance of balance, so there were calls for 'growth with stability', 'good government and services at a reasonable cost', and 'planning for the future while still meeting today's needs'. If you rolled all the pledges together you would have one formidable candidate: open and accessible, but decisive and willing to make hard choices; committed to maintaining the services we need while keeping taxes as low as possible; a promoter of Toronto's growth, but not at the expense of its character and existing neighbourhoods; and someone who can see the big picture while making Toronto a city that works for its citizens at a nitty gritty level.

The display of selected campaign literature will be on view on the main floor of the Toronto Reference Library until election day. To learn more about the personalities and issues that have shaped Toronto's recent past, come and see us in the Urban Affairs Library in Metro Hall.