Beth Nealson
Beth Nealson | |
|---|---|
| Mayor of Leaside, Ontario | |
| In office 1963–1966 | |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Dickinson |
| Succeeded by | District was amalgamated |
| Councillor in Leaside | |
| In office 1959–1962 | |
| Member, Leaside Board of Education | |
| In office 1952–1955 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1910 Glen Ewen, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | 1994 (aged 83–84) |
Beth Nealson (c. 1910 – 1994) was a Canadian politician, community planner, and journalist. She was elected mayor of Leaside, Ontario, in 1962, making her the first woman mayor in Metropolitan Toronto. Known as "Mrs. Leaside", Nealson was also the last mayor of Leaside, which was amalgamated with East York township in 1967. In 1966, Nealson ran and lost against True Davidson for the mayoralty of the newly formed borough of East York, in a historic election billed by the Canadian media as "The Battle of the Belles". Before becoming mayor, Nealson served on the Leaside Education Board and the Leaside town council, and was vice chairman of the Ontario Division of the Community Planning Association of Canada. Beth Nealson Drive in Toronto is named after her.