True Davidson

Jean Gertrude "True" Davidson, CM (19 April 1901 – 18 September 1978), was a Canadian politician, teacher, and writer.

She was the first mayor of the Borough of East York, Ontario, and she was one of Metropolitan Toronto's most colourful politicians in a career spanning nearly 25 years.

She spent 10 years on the East York school board and 11 years as alderwoman, reeve and mayor on East York Council.

During her time in municipal politics she ran in 11 elections and never lost.

She was born in Hudson, Quebec, the daughter of a Methodist minister.

She was educated at the University of Toronto and then worked as a teacher.

She worked as a writer, editing a 12-volume compendium of Canadiana by William Perkins Bull.

After her parents died, she moved to East York where she quickly became involved in local politics.

Davidson was born in Hudson, Quebec, in 1901.

Her father, John Wilson Davidson was a Methodist minister.

Her mother, Mary Elfeda Pomeroy, was the daughter of a Methodist minister.

She had a younger sister named Marsh.

At the time of her death she had two nephews, Michael and David Cobden.

In 1917, she attended Victoria College (now part of the University of Toronto) when it was still in Cobourg, Ontario, starting at the age of 16.

She earned her BA there and then went to the Regina Normal School where she obtained a teaching certificate.

She taught English and History in Strasbourg, Saskatchewan and Brandon, Manitoba.

In 1923, she returned to university and received her M.A. After that she taught history at Havergal College in Toronto.

Davidson wrote children's books and for a time worked for textbook publisher J.M. Dent and Sons as a salesperson, visiting school boards across the country.

She was the first female publishing sales representative in Canada.

Davidson was inspired to join the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in the 1930s after meeting J.S. Woodsworth.

She ran twice as a candidate for the party losing both times.

She left the party after the CCF merged with the Canadian Labour Congress to form the New Democratic Party of Canada.

Leaving J.M. Dent in 1930, Davidson spent a year attempting to survive as a writer.

During this time she wrote articles for The Globe and Mail and Chatelaine magazine.

In 1931 she was hired by William Perkins Bull to coordinate the publication of a 12-volume edition of Canadiana.

She worked on the project for seven years.

By the time it was completed she was in charge of a staff of 70 researchers.

Davidson joined the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) in 1934 after meeting J.S. Woodsworth.

In 1940, she moved with her parents to Streetsville, Ontario.

During the move she was in a motor vehicle accident that left her father seriously injured.

He died four days later.

Left destitute and caring for her invalid mother, she performed odd writing jobs until in April 1941, she was appointed Clerk and Treasurer of the Village of Streetsville.

She was replacing someone who had gone overseas to fight in World War II.

She became a school trustee in 1947 and later chair of the school board.

In 1958 she ran for local council and served one term before being elected as reeve in 1960.

In 1966, East York merged with Leaside and Davidson emerged as the winner in a runoff election for mayor against Leaside's reeve, Beth Nealson.

In 1971 she ran for the Liberals in the 1971 provincial election but lost to incumbent Arthur Meen.

In the last six years of her life she concentrated on writing a twice weekly column for the Toronto Sun and also focused her efforts on environmental conservation.

Davidson stayed on as mayor for six years until she retired in 1972.

She died in 1978 at the age of 77.