Ralph Carrette Day (November 24, 1898 – May 21, 1976) was

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a Municipal corporation, municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilitie ...

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

from 1938 to 1940. He was also an accomplished

funeral director A funeral director, also known as an undertaker or mortician (American English), is a professional who has licenses in funeral arranging and embalming (or preparation of the deceased) involved in the business of funeral rites. These tasks o ...

, owning his own

funeral home A funeral home, funeral parlor or mortuary is a business that provides burial, entombment and cremation services for the dead and their families. These services may include a prepared visitation and funeral, and the provision of a chapel for t ...

. He also served as chairman of the

Toronto Transit Commission The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is the primary public transport agency in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, operating the majority of the city's transit bus, bus and rail services. It is the oldest and largest of the urban transit service providers ...

in the 1960s and 1970s. He was also a member of the

Orange Order in Canada The Loyal Orange Association in Canada, historically the Loyal Orange Association in British America and also known as the Loyal Orange Association of Canada, Grand Orange Lodge of Canada, or simply Orange Order in Canada, is the Canadian branch ...

. In 1916, at the age of 17, Day joined the Canadian army to fight in

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. He would fight and survive action at the

Battle of Vimy Ridge The Battle of Vimy Ridge was part of the Battle of Arras, in the Pas-de-Calais department of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the four divisions of the Canadian Corps in the First Army, against three divisions of ...

. Day entered municipal politics in the 1930s, first as an alderman and then as a controller before being elected mayor in 1938 and serving until 1940. Italian-Canadian men were interned by the federal government shortly after Italy declared war on Canada during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

; Day announced on June 11, 1940, that their families, despite now lacking a breadwinner, would be denied

welfare Welfare may refer to: Philosophy *Well-being (happiness, prosperity, or flourishing) of a person or group * Utility in utilitarianism * Value in value theory Economics * Utility, a general term for individual well-being in economics and decision ...

. "This country is at war with Italy", he stated, "and Italians cannot very well expect us to spend money for war purposes for the purpose of maintaining alien enemies." In 1952 Day became the first chairman of the new Toronto Parking Authority. He held this position until 1963 when he was named to the Toronto Transit Commission and became its chairman in turn. He held the position with the TTC until 1972. The Ralph Day Funeral Home still operates but has since merged with another Day family acquisition. "Heritage Funeral Centre, "Ralph Day Chapel" is in Toronto on Overlea Boulevard.

Irish Sweepstakes

In 1949 Day won the equivalent of $100,000 (Canadian) on an

Irish Sweepstakes The Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake was a lottery established in the Irish Free State in 1930 as the Irish Free State Hospitals' Sweepstake to finance hospitals. It is generally referred to as the Irish Sweepstake or Irish Sweepstakes, sometimes ab ...

ticket on the horse Russian Hill. Seriously ill at the time with "a blood complaint" resulting from an infected tooth, he described the news as "the best tonic in the world".

Personal life

With his wife Vera, Day had two daughters, Marie and Shirley, and one son, Glen. His son married former mayor Allan A. Lamport's daughter, Edythe Jane Lamport, and had three sons, Glen, Allan, and Andrew.

References

* ''Toronto Star'', May 21, 1976 {{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Ralph 1898 births 1976 deaths 20th-century mayors of places in Ontario Mayors of Toronto Chairs of the Toronto Transit Commission Canadian funeral directors Burials at Toronto Necropolis