Bracondale

Bracondale
Ontario electoral district
Bracondale electoral district as it appeared from 1934 until its abolition in 1967
Defunct provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of Ontario
District created1925
District abolished1967
First contested1926
Last contested1965

Bracondale was a provincial electoral district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1926 to 1967. The constituency got its name from an old Toronto suburb called Bracondale, that was annexed by Toronto in 1909. Its most notable event was electing one of the first two women Members of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) to share the title "first-woman MPP" in 1943 when Rae Luckock was elected. In 1965, Bracondale's MPP, Joseph Gould, died in office sparking the final election held in the constituency. George Ben won the by-election, and became the constituency's last MPP. It was abolished for the 1967 Ontario provincial election, and redistributed into the Dovercourt and Bellwoods constituencies. As of 2023, the current electoral districts of Davenport, St. Paul's, University–Rosedale, and Spadina–Fort York encompass this historic riding.

History

Bracondale was the name of a former Toronto suburb that was annexed by the city in 1909; and north of Davenport Road, constituted the northern part of what eventually became the provincial electoral district. It was part of the northwestern expansion of the city that included Wychwood Park, and the City of West Toronto (now known as The Junction). The constituency was first contested during Ontario's 17th general election on 1 December 1926. Arthur Russell Nesbitt, was elected its first Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). He was a member of Ontario Conservative Party. The constituency's first Ontario Liberal MLA was Lionel Conacher, a famous Canadian athlete that retired from the National Hockey League to start a career in politics. He was elected on 6 October 1937 in a very close race with the constituency's incumbent MLA, Nesbitt. Nesbitt claimed that two ballot boxes were missing and one was filled with fraudulent ballots. The constituency's returning officer was arrested, and denied bail because he had a quantity of ballots stuffed in his pockets. Soon after Conacher was elected as an MLA, the legislature changed the designation for its members to Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in 1938.

Bracondale's most notable event came in 1943. Its residents elected Rae Luckock, one of two Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) female MPPs to share the title "first-female MPP"; the other was Agnes Macphail in York East. Luckock lost the 4 June 1945 provincial election to Conservative Harry Hyland Hyndman, which saw the Conservatives sweep into a majority government, by gaining most of the extra seats from the CCF.

Boundaries

The original boundaries for Bracondale, used for the 1926 and 1929 elections

1926 to 1934 boundaries

Bracondale was a long and narrow constituency, ranging from the Canadian National Exhibition Grounds in the south to the city limits at St. Clair Avenue in the north, in Toronto's west-end. It included parts of the present-day neighbourhoods of Bracondale Hill, Davenport, Dovercourt Park, Dufferin Grove, Little Portugal, and Liberty Village. Its southern boundary was Lake Ontario. Its eastern boundary started on the west side of Strachan Avenue. It went north on Strachan to Queen Street West and jogged westward along Queen's south side to Crawford Avenue. It then went north on Crawford's west side until Dundas Street West, where it went eastward along the northern section of Dundas to Beatrice Street. It went north on Beatrice's west side straight through to Bloor Street West. It then jogged east on Bloor's north side to Christie Avenue. It then went along Christie to the northern boundary, the city limits just north of St. Clair Avenue West. It jogged westward along the city limits to Oakwood Avenue. It then went south along Oakwood's eastside to Davenport Road. It then jogged along Davenport's south-side to Dovercourt Road. It then went south on Dovercourt's east-side to Atlantic Avenue. On Atlantic's east-side to Lake Ontario.

1934 to 1967 Boundaries

Bracondale in context with the other Toronto districts in 1926 and 1929

Bracondale was a long and narrow constituency, ranging from the Canadian National Exhibition Grounds in the south to the city limits immediately north of St. Clair Avenue, in Toronto's west-end. It included parts of the present-day neighbourhoods that belong to Bracondale Hill, Davenport, Dovercourt Park, Dufferin Grove, Little Portugal, and Liberty Village. Its southern boundary was Lake Ontario. Its eastern boundary started on the west-side of Strachan Avenue. It went north on Strachan to Queen Street West and jogged westward along Queen's south side to Crawford Avenue. It then went north on Crawford's westside until Bloor Street West. It then jogged east on Bloor's north side to Christie Avenue. It then went along Christie to the northern boundary, the city limits just north of St. Clair Avenue West. It jogged westward along the city limits to Oakwood Avenue. It then went south along Oakwood's eastside to Davenport Road. It then jogged along Davenport's south-side to Dovercourt Road. It then went south on Dovercourt's east-side to Atlantic Avenue. On Atlantic's east-side to Lake Ontario.

In 2012, the historic boundaries are approximately part of the south-east portion of the present-day Davenport constituency, a portion of the southern section of St. Paul's constituency, and most of the western portion of the Trinity–Spadina constituency.

Members of Provincial Parliament

Bracondale
Assembly Years Member Party
Prior to 1926 part of Toronto Southwest and Toronto Northwest ridings
17th  1926–1929     Arthur Russell Nesbitt Conservative
18th  1929–1934
19th  1934–1937
20th  1937–1943     Lionel Conacher Liberal
21st  1943–1945     Rae Luckock Co-operative Commonwealth
22nd  1945–1948     Harry Hyland Hyndman Progressive Conservative
23rd  1948–1951     Harry Lindley Walters Co-operative Commonwealth
24th  1951–1955     Arthur George Frost Progressive Conservative
25th  1955–1959
26th  1959–1963     Joseph Gould Liberal
27th  1963–1965
 1965–1967     George Ben Liberal
Sourced from the Ontario Legislative Assembly
Merged into Bellwoods and Dovercourt ridings after 1967

Election results

Ontario provincial by-election, September 15, 1965
Death of Joseph Gould
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalGeorge Ben4,94046.35+8.03
New DemocraticJohn Farina3,48632.70+8.71
Progressive ConservativeLawrence Odette2,23320.95–16.74
Total valid votes 10,65997.81
Total rejected ballots 2392.19+0.81
Turnout 10,89864.92+3.59
Eligible voters 16,786
Liberal hold Swing –0.34
Source: Elections Ontario
1963 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJoseph Gould4,27138.31+1.73
Progressive ConservativeStanley Frolick4,20237.69+4.62
New DemocraticStan Matias2,67524.00–2.30
Total valid votes 11,14898.62
Total rejected ballots 1561.38–1.14
Turnout 11,30461.33+4.93
Eligible voters 18,430
Liberal hold Swing –1.45
Source: Elections Ontario
1959 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalJoseph Gould4,06936.59+11.02
Progressive ConservativeHarold Menzies3,67833.07–7.33
Co-operative CommonwealthJohn Elchuk2,92526.30–2.71
IndependentRobert Martin4504.05–
Total valid votes 11,12297.48
Total rejected ballots 2872.52+0.60
Turnout 11,40956.40+1.16
Eligible voters 20,227
Liberal gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +9.18
Source: Elections Ontario
1955 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeArthur George Frost4,72740.40–1.77
Co-operative CommonwealthThomas Paton3,39429.01–1.49
LiberalGeorge Ben2,99125.56–1.77
Labor–ProgressiveHarry Hunter5885.03–
Total valid votes 11,70098.09
Total rejected ballots 2281.91+0.17
Turnout 11,92855.24–3.89
Eligible voters 21,592
Progressive Conservative hold Swing –0.14
Source: Elections Ontario
1951 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeArthur George Frost6,21342.17+3.86
Co-operative CommonwealthHarry Lindley Walters4,49330.49–14.51
LiberalFrank Mills4,02827.34+10.64
Total valid votes 14,73498.26
Total rejected ballots 2611.74+0.53
Turnout 14,99559.13–4.84
Eligible voters 25,358
Progressive Conservative gain from Co-operative Commonwealth Swing +9.19
Source: Elections Ontario
1948 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Co-operative CommonwealthHarry Lindley Walters7,95645.00+18.14
Progressive ConservativeFrederick J. Conboy6,77238.30+2.69
LiberalWilliam Alexander Gunn2,95216.70–4.99
Total valid votes 17,68098.79
Total rejected ballots 2161.21–0.43
Turnout 17,89663.97–6.23
Eligible voters 27,975
Co-operative Commonwealth gain from Progressive Conservative Swing +7.73
Source: Elections Ontario
1945 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeHarry Hyland Hyndman6,60035.61–0.59
Co-operative CommonwealthRae Luckock4,97826.86–11.70
LiberalLionel Conacher4,01921.69–1.09
Labor–ProgressiveLeslie Morris2,60714.07–
IndependentCharles H. Graham3281.77–
Total valid votes 18,53298.37
Total rejected ballots 3081.63+0.37
Turnout 18,84070.20+20.65
Eligible voters 26,839
Progressive Conservative gain from Co-operative Commonwealth Swing +5.56
Source: Elections Ontario
1943 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Co-operative CommonwealthRae Luckock4,68138.56+26.87
Progressive ConservativeHarold Menzies4,39536.21–7.86
LiberalErnest Charlton Bogart2,76522.78–21.46
SoldierJohn Dymond2982.45–
Total valid votes 12,13998.73
Total rejected ballots 1561.27–0.12
Turnout 12,29549.55–19.86
Eligible voters 24,813
Co-operative Commonwealth gain from Liberal Swing +24.17
Source: Elections Ontario
1937 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalLionel Conacher7,55844.24+4.99
ConservativeArthur Russell Nesbitt7,52944.07+2.97
Co-operative CommonwealthMurray Cotterill1,99711.69–5.72
Total valid votes 17,08498.61
Total rejected ballots 2401.39–0.00
Turnout 17,32469.41+4.56
Eligible voters 24,960
Liberal gain from Conservative Swing +1.01
Source: Elections Ontario
1934 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeArthur Russell Nesbitt6,45241.10–29.45
LiberalErnest Charlton Bogart6,16339.25+11.90
Co-operative CommonwealthRose Henderson2,73417.41–
CommunistThomas Sims3121.99–0.12
Socialist-LabourWilliam J. White390.25–
Total valid votes 15,70098.61
Total rejected ballots 2211.39+0.29
Turnout 15,92164.84+22.05
Eligible voters 24,553
Conservative hold Swing –20.68
Source: Elections Ontario
1929 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
ConservativeArthur Russell Nesbitt7,10870.54+1.14
LiberalJoseph John Noad2,75627.35+16.49
CommunistThomas Sims2122.10–
Total valid votes 10,07698.90
Total rejected ballots 1121.10+1.01
Turnout 10,18842.79–27.54
Eligible voters 23,807
Conservative hold Swing –7.68
Source: Elections Ontario
1926 Ontario general election
Party Candidate Votes%
ConservativeArthur Russell Nesbitt10,56369.41
ProhibitionistAllan Wesley Pike3,00319.73
LiberalFrancis Hugh Wager1,65310.86
Total valid votes 15,21999.91
Total rejected ballots 140.09
Turnout 15,23370.33
Eligible voters 21,659
Conservative pickup new district.
Source: Elections Ontario

See also

References

  1. ↑ Federal and provincial electoral district boundaries are the same in Toronto.
  2. 1 2 "Bracondale and Wychwood given special terms by the City Council--West Toronto Annexation passed--Legislature asked to help re street railway lines". Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. 15 December 1908. p. 7.
  3. ↑ "All Members serving in Parliament: 17 -- December 01, 1926 - September 17, 1929". Past and Present MPPs. Toronto: Ontario Legislative Assembly. 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Arthur Russell Nesbitt, MPP". Past and Present MPPs. Toronto: Ontario Legislative Assembly. 2011. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  5. ↑ The Canadian Press (2 September 1937). "Lionel Conacher quits sports for a career in politics". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. p. 24. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  6. ↑ "'Big Train' elected: Lionel Conacher forsook puck for Ontario political career". The Vancouver Sun. Vancouver. 7 October 1937. p. 7. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  7. 1 2 The Canadian Press (7 October 1937). "Hepburn takes 67 seats". The Leader-Post. Regina, Saskatchewan. p. 1. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  8. ↑ The Canadian Press (5 August 1943). "Ontario precedent set as 2 women elected". The Montreal Gazette. Montreal. p. 12. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Star Staff (5 June 1945). "How Ontario's electors voted in all 90 ridings". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 5. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  10. 1 2 Star Staff (29 May 1945). "Candidates and their balliwicks for next Monday's provincial election: 69 run, 17 can win". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 3.
  11. 1 2 Forsyth, Robert (11 September 1963). "The Province of Ontario general election 1963 the Voters' List ACT III: Bracondale". The Toronto Star. Toronto. Elections Ontario. p. 31.
  12. ↑ "Davenport" (PDF). 2011 Electoral District Maps. Toronto: Elections Ontario. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  13. ↑ "St. Paul's" (PDF). 2011 Electoral District Maps. Toronto: Elections Ontario. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  14. ↑ "Trinity–Spadina" (PDF). 2011 Electoral District Maps. Toronto: Elections Ontario. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 November 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  15. ↑ For a listing of each MPP's Queen's Park curriculum vitae see below:
    • For Arthur Russell Nesbitt's Legislative Assembly information see "Arthur Russell Nesbitt, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
    • For Lionel Conacher's Legislative Assembly information see "Lionel Conacher, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
    • For Rae Luckock's Legislative Assembly information see "Rae Luckock, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
    • For Harry Hyndman's Legislative Assembly information see "Harry Hyland Hyndman, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
    • For Harry Walters' Legislative Assembly information see "Harry Lindley Walters, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
    • For Arthur Frost's Legislative Assembly information see "Arthur George Frost, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
    • For Joseph Gould's Legislative Assembly information see "Joseph M. Gould, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
    • For George Ben's Legislative Assembly information see "George Ben, MPP". Parliamentary History. Toronto: Legislative Assembly of Ontario. 2016.
  16. ↑ Lewis, Roderick (1968). Centennial edition of a history of the electoral districts, legislatures and ministries of the province of Ontario, 1867-1968. Queen's Printer.
  17. ↑ Canadian Press (16 September 1965). "Liberals Hold Two Seats". The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. pp. 1, 6. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  18. ↑ "1963 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  19. ↑ Ontario. Chief Election Officer (1963). Return from the Records of the By-Elections and General Election held on the 11th and 25th of September, 1963 (Report). Toronto: Queen's Printer. ISSN 0847-3927.
  20. ↑ Canadian Press (26 September 1963). "Who Won Which Seats In P.C.s Ontario Sweep". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 20.
  21. ↑ "1959 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  22. ↑ Ontario. Chief Election Officer (1959). Return from the Records of the By-Elections and General Election held on the 28th of May and 11th of June, 1959 (Report). Toronto: Queen's Printer.
  23. ↑ Canadian Press (12 June 1959). "Complete Results of Ontario Voting by Constituencies". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. p. 26. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  24. ↑ "1955 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  25. ↑ Ontario. Chief Election Officer (1955). Return from the Records of the By-Elections and General Election held on the 26th of May and 9th of June, 1955 (Report). Toronto: Queen's Printer.
  26. ↑ Canadian Press (10 June 1955). "Complete Results of Ontario Voting by Constituencies". The Ottawa Citizen. Ottawa. p. 4. Retrieved 22 April 2012.
  27. ↑ "1951 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  28. ↑ Ontario. Chief Election Officer (1951). Return from the Records of the By-Elections and General Election held on the 8th and 22nd of November, 1951 (Report). Toronto: Queen's Printer.
  29. ↑ Canadian Press (23 November 1951). "How Ontario Electors Voted in all 90 Ridings". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 10. Results with 101 out of 109 polls reporting.
  30. ↑ "1948 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  31. ↑ Ontario. Chief Election Officer (1948). Return from the Records of the By-Elections and General Election held on the 31st of May and 7th of June, 1948 (Report). Toronto: Queen's Printer.
  32. ↑ Canadian Press (8 June 1948). "How Ontario Electors Voted in all 90 Ridings". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 24.
  33. ↑ "1945 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  34. ↑ "Sessional Paper No. 40 - Return from the records of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in 1945". Ontario Sessional Papers, 1946: Vol. LXXVIII - Part IV (Report). Toronto: King's Printer. 1946.
  35. ↑ Canadian Press (5 June 1945). "How Ontario Electors Voted in all 90 Ridings". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. p. 5. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  36. ↑ "1943 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  37. ↑ "Sessional Paper No. 40 - Return from the Records of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in 1943". Ontario Sessional Papers, 1944: Vol. LXXVI - Part IV (Report). Toronto: King's Printer. 1944.
  38. ↑ Canadian Press (5 August 1943). "Ontario Election Results". The Gazette. Montreal. p. 12.
  39. ↑ "1937 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  40. ↑ "Sessional Paper No. 25 - Return from the Records of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in 1937". Ontario Sessional Papers, 1938: Vol. LXX - Part IV (Report). Toronto: King's Printer. 1938.
  41. ↑ "Ontario Voted By Ridings". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. 7 October 1937. p. 5.
  42. ↑ "1934 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  43. ↑ "Sessional Paper No. 25 - Return from the Records of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in 1934". Ontario Sessional Papers, 1935: Vol. LXVII - Part V (Report). Toronto: King's Printer. 1935.
  44. ↑ "Detailed Election Results". The Globe. Toronto. 21 June 1934. p. 3.
  45. ↑ "1929 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  46. ↑ "Sessional Paper No. 3 - Return from the Records of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in 1929". Ontario Sessional Papers, 1930: Vol. LXII - Part II (Report). Toronto: King's Printer. 1930.
  47. ↑ "Vote Cast and Personnel of the New Ontario Legislature". The Toronto Daily Star. Toronto. 31 October 1929. p. 43.
  48. ↑ "1926 General Election - Data Explorer". Elections Ontario. Retrieved 11 September 2026.
  49. ↑ "Sessional Paper No. 25 - Return from the Records of the General Election to the Legislative Assembly in 1926". Ontario Sessional Papers, 1927: Vol. LIX - Part V (Report). Toronto: King's Printer. 1928.
  50. ↑ "Sweep by Tories Returns 15 Wets in Toronto Seats". The Toronto Daily Star (Last Extra edition). Toronto. 1 December 1926. p. 1. Results with 98 out of 99 polls reporting.