Ralph Carrette Day (November 24, 1898 – May 21, 1976) was
mayor of
Toronto, Ontario from 1938 to 1940. He was also an accomplished
funeral director, owning his own
funeral home. He also served as chairman of the
Toronto Transit Commission in the 1960s and 1970s. He was also a member of the
Orange Order in Canada.
In 1916, at the age of 17, Day joined the Canadian army to fight in
World War I. 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 o ...
.
Day entered municipal politics in the 1930s, first as an alderman and then as a
controller before being elected mayor in 1938 and served until 1940.
Italian-Canadian men were interned by the federal government shortly after Italy declared war on Canada during
World War II; Day announced on June 11, 1940, that their families, despite now lacking a breadwinner, would be denied
welfare. "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 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 would marry former mayor
Allan A. Lamport
Allan Austin Lamport, (April 4, 1903 – November 18, 1999) was mayor of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, from 1951 to 1954. Known as "Lampy", his most notable achievement was his opposition to Toronto's Blue laws which banned virtually any activ ...
's daughter, Edythe Jane Lamport, and have three sons, Glen, Allan, and Andrew.
References
* ''Toronto Star'', May 21, 1976
{{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Ralph
1898 births
1976 deaths
Mayors of Toronto
Chairs of the Toronto Transit Commission
Canadian funeral directors
Burials at Toronto Necropolis