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402:. Most notably, the Bloor-Danforth and University subway lines opened during Allen's tenure. Furthermore, Allen also initiated many social programs that included welfare assistance and old age homes. Allen cited the latter initiative as one of his proudest achievements. Metro's fourth chair, Paul V. Godfrey, told reporters after Allen's death 25 years later that he gave Metro its "human touch". (Toronto Star, October 1/85)
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During his political career, Allen served on all City
Council and Metropolitan Council Standing Committees. He also held positions with a number of external bodies. He was President of the Ontario Municipal Association, Honorary President of the Convention and Tourist Bureau of Metropolitan Toronto,
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was created by the
Province of Ontario in 1952 and comprised Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, York, and East York. While these municipalities continued to manage some local matters, Metropolitan Toronto assumed the responsibilities of more expensive programs, such as the TTC, police, and
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Allen maintained similar policies set out by his predecessor, Fred
Gardiner. Toronto was going through a period of change, and he did little to impede that process. He presided over the expansion of the
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during the 1930s. Robert Allen was the first
Liberal to be elected to the legislature from Riverdale since Confederation in 1867. Robert Allen's father-in-law, Randall McDonnell, was the mayor of
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453:(now the William R. Allen Road) in honour of Allen's distinguished civic service. The "Allen" runs from Kennard Avenue (Wilson Heights Boulevard link) in the north, to
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and was re-elected in 1956, 1958, and 1960. In 1958 and 1960 he finished in the top two, of the four
Controllers elected, enabling him to return to Metro Council.
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Allen retired from the post in 1969. After leaving politics, he served as
President and CEO to several corporations and sat on the Board of Directors for
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welfare. The municipality was presided over by a "super mayor", or Metro
Chairman, for its 46-year duration until amalgamation in 1998.
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In 1950, William Allen entered municipal politics with his election as an alderman on
Toronto city council, representing
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Allen strongly opposed amalgamation until his death in 1985 (Globe and Mail, October 1/85). He is buried at
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Undefeated in civic elections, Allen remained in municipal office until 1962 when, upon the retirement of
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Allen continued to build the infrastructure that began with his predecessor, Metro's first
Chairman,
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264:(June 29, 1919 – October 1, 1985) was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the
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in Ward 1. He subsequently was elected by the City of
Toronto to become the youngest
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in 1960. He married Marjorie Hornberger; together, they raised three children.
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and attained the rank of captain, serving overseas in Britain and Europe.
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building program, which was cancelled after his exit from politics.
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After being called to the Ontario Bar in 1949, Allen was appointed
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Upon his retirement, the Spadina Expressway was renamed the
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and Honorary Vice-President of Boy Scouts of Canada.
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Chairman of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto
361:in Toronto history. He was a member of the first
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154:January 10, 1962 – September 30, 1969
268:from 1962 to 1969. He is the namesake of the
51:introducing citations to additional sources
391:), Allen defeated the Reeve of North York,
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62:"William Allen" Canadian politician
41:Relevant discussion may be found on the
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292:, Ontario), Allen was a graduate of
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505:Chairmen of Metropolitan Toronto
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462:Mount Hope Catholic Cemetery
423:Canadian National Exhibition
363:Metropolitan Toronto Council
294:St. Michael's College School
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419:Toronto Stock Exchange
142:Metro Toronto Chairman
324:Robert Aloysius Allen
298:University of Toronto
288:(on the outskirts of
270:William R. Allen Road
257:William Randall Allen
377:Metropolitan Toronto
310:Queen's York Rangers
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457:West in the south.
425:from 1979 to 1980.
389:Gardiner Expressway
238:Marjorie Hornberger
393:Norman C. Goodhead
286:Buckingham, Quebec
205:Buckingham, Quebec
387:(namesake of the
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216:(1985-10-01)
172:Succeeded by
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495:1985 deaths
490:1919 births
476:, biography
330:and then a
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227:Nationality
160:Preceded by
484:Categories
468:References
445:Retirement
439:expressway
411:Air Canada
359:Controller
280:Background
198:1919-06-29
73:newspapers
355:Riverdale
339:Riverdale
326:, was an
304:. During
150:In office
43:talk page
349:Politics
328:alderman
284:Born in
243:Children
230:Canadian
332:Liberal
274:Toronto
87:scholar
435:subway
417:, the
407:Molson
300:, and
296:, the
290:Ottawa
235:Spouse
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211:Died
192:Born
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