Saunders, Robert Hood

  • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: See full biography at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hood_Saunders
  • Wiki Biography:
    • Robert Hood Saunders CBE QC (May 30, 1903 – January 16, 1955) was mayor of Toronto from 1945 to 1948, and then president of the Canadian National Exhibition, and chairman of the Ontario Hydro (formally named the Hydro Electric Power Commission of Ontario (HEPCO)). He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada.
    • As mayor, he was nicknamed “Grassroots Bob,” for his down-to-earth style. A native of Toronto, he was a champion of the Toronto subway and fought to remove slums. In 1946, Saunders was inspired by an elementary school traffic safety program in Detroit. Saunders worked to start a program in Toronto, and the result was the Elmer the Safety Elephant program.
    • Saunders was elected alderman for Ward 4 in 1935 and again in 1936. He was defeated in several attempts to be elected to the Toronto Board of Control before returning to city council as an alderman for Ward 4 in 1940. Saunders was elected to and served on the Board of Control from 1941 until 1944 before winning the January 1, 1945 mayoral election by defeating incumbent mayor Frederick J. Conboy. Saunders was re-elected in 1946, 1947 and 1948.
    • In Toronto the Robert H. Saunders Memorial, a bas relief on stone marker was completed in 1957 by Emanuel Hahn on University Avenue south of College Street.
  • Third Great Grandson of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=2177
  • Find A Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78874605/robert_hood-saunders