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Florence Ellis Gell
Florence Gell, Deputy Reeve of the Township of York, seated at the wheel of the new LaFrance Aerial Ladder Truck delivered to the Township in 1960. (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 211, Series 1906, File 12)
Born
Florence Ellis Bailey

(1906-09-17)September 17, 1906
Lachute Mills, Quebec, Canada
Died(2001-03-20)March 20, 2001
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)Factory Worker, Stenographer, Politician, Authority Vice-Chair & Chair
SpouseGeorge William Gell
Children2

Florence Ellis Gell (née Bailey, 1906–2001) was a prominent civic leader and a well-regarded municipal politician in the former City of York, Ontario, Canada. Gell was known to be a very active member of her community and was the first woman to serve in a number of public positions. She received local and provincial honours for her extensive public service, including York's Citizen of the Decade award.

Background

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Florence Gell was born to Annie Reed and George Arthur Bailey in Lachute Mills, Quebec. She moved with her family at a young age to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, where she lived until 1919. Gell was living independently of her parents and was in full-time employment in Toronto, Ontario, by late 1920. She married George William Gell in 1930 in Toronto before moving to York in 1932, where they had two sons, Robert (1937) and John (1940). George Gell served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and was killed in Germany in April 1945.[1][2]

Politics

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Florence Gell was a role model and trailblazer for women in public life in the Township, later Borough (1967), then City (1983) of York.[3][4] She was elected Chair of the York Board of Education (Jan 1953)[5][6] and then a member of York's Municipal Council (Dec 1953).[7][8] For the majority of her time on the Council, Gell served (first appointed, then elected) as a Deputy Reeve (1958–1966).[9][10] She was the first woman to hold each of these three positions, as well as the only woman on the York Council during her thirteen-year tenure.[11]

Florence Gell inspired Gayle Christie to enter York politics. Gell was Christie's heroine. Christie followed in Gell's political footsteps and was elected Mayor of York (1978).[12][13] Gell was also an important inspiration to Frances Nunziata, who was also elected Mayor of York (1994).[14] Christie and Nunziata were the only women to be elected Mayor of York, which included holders of the equivalent position of Reeve on the old Township Council.[15][16]

Florence Gell on the Municipal Council of the Township of York, 1954
(City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 501, File 15)

Other public service

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Florence Gell, President, Ontario Traffic Conference, April 1967.
(Ontario Traffic Council archives.)

Following Florence Gell’s departure from municipal politics in December 1966,[17] she carried on with her public service in other roles. She continued her progression through the ranks to become President of the Ontario Traffic Conference † (1967),[18] Chair of the Board of Governors of Humber College (1977),[6] and Chair of the Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (1983).[19][20] Gell was the first woman to hold each of these positions.

During her time at the Conservation Authority, Florence Gell played an important role in the establishment and promotion of Conservation Schools (also called Field Centres) for children and youth to encourage the protection of the natural environment.[21][22][23][24] In December 1968, the first of these schools/centres (opened in 1963 at Albion Hills) received the first White Owl Conservation Award for its work.[25][26]

Florence Gell was active in all aspects of her community. At various times before, during, and after her political career, Gell's community and public positions included the following:

  • Vestry Clerk, Advisory Board officer, Toronto Synod lay delegate, and a principal fundraiser for The Church of the Advent (Anglican);[27][28][29][30][31]
  • Rationing Officer during World War II;[32]
  • Volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross Society;[33][34]
  • Member and President of the Lambton Park Home and School Association;[35]
  • Adult advisor to the youth-run Jack and Jill Club for Teenagers;[36]
  • Corresponding Secretary of the York Community Council;[37][38]
  • Chair, then Corresponding Secretary, of the York Advisory Recreation Committee;[39][40]
  • Member of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (Magna Charta Chapter);[41]
  • Director of the Toronto and District Urban School Trustees' Association;[42]
  • Returning Officer and Clerk for provincial elections;[43]
  • Advocate for the establishment of public daycare facilities for children;[27][44]
  • Chair of the Fireworks Committee for York's annual Victoria Day celebration;[45][46]
  • Active member and convention delegate of the local Progressive Conservative Association;[47][48]
  • Member of the York Safety Council;[49]
  • Member of the Board of Governors of the Osler School of Nursing;[50]
  • Member and spokesperson of the Committee Representing York Borough Hospitals;[51]
  • Senior volunteer at St. Hilda's Towers (affordable rental housing for seniors, which included assisted living services and recreational activities);[52]
  • Member of York's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee.[53]

Florence Gell’s philanthropic activities included fundraising for the following organizations: Canadian Red Cross Society, Canadian Cancer Society, United Appeal for Metropolitan Toronto (United Way since 1973), and the private, not-for-profit York Township School for children with intellectual disabilities (now the public Haney Centre in the Toronto District School Board).[54][55][56][57][58]

Gell also served on the governing boards of Runnymede Hospital, Northwestern General Hospital, York Township Housing Company (Beech Hall Apartments for low-income seniors), St. Hilda’s Towers, and the foundations that supported St. Hilda’s and the Toronto Conservation Authority.[52][59][60]

Note: † The Ontario Traffic Conference is now the Ontario Traffic Council.[61]

Honours

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Ontario Bicentennial Medal
(Grey Roots Museum & Archives, Owen Sound, Ontario)

Florence Gell received a number of local and provincial honours for her public work. These recognitions included the following:

  • Honourary Life Member of the Ontario Traffic Conference (c. 1970);[62][63]
  • York’s first Citizen of the Decade award (1978);[64][65][66]
  • The Ontario Bicentennial Medal (1984).[67][68]

In addition, the following were so named in her honour:

  • Florence Gell Park (1956) in the Warren Park neighbourhood of York;[69]
  • The Florence Gell Award (1979) at Humber College;[70]
  • The Florence Gell Garden (1985) at The Village at Black Creek (Conservation Authority);[71]
  • Florence Gell Memorial Bursary (2005) at The Church of the Advent.[72]

Note: Contrary to some sources, Florence Gell was not named York's Citizen of the Year in 1981. That honour went to Nadia De Franco.[73][74]

Florence Gell Park in the Warren Park neighbourhood of the former City of York, now part of the City of Toronto, May 2025.

Citations

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  1. ^ Gell. 2000. pp. 143–144.; Ryan. 2024. p. 7. (see references)
  2. ^ "Gell, George William, Service № J40435. Library and Archives Canada, Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947, RG 24, Volume 27579". Library and Archives Canada. Nov 25, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  3. ^ "The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Amendment Act, 1966" (Reprint). Statutes of Ontario, 1966, Chap. 96, sec. 14 (new Part VIII). May 18, 1966. pp. 470–471. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  4. ^ "Ontario Regulation 396/83" (Reprint). Ontario Gazette (Regulations). Jul 9, 1983. p. 3059 (939). Retrieved April 24, 2025.
  5. ^ Photograph captioned "Mrs. Florence Gell ... first lady chairman of York twp. board of education ...", The Toronto Star, Jan 13, 1953, p. 7.
  6. ^ a b "Gell Appointed Board Chairman" (PDF), Humber Happenings, 3 (5): 6, Winter 1977, archived from the original on April 26, 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  7. ^ Photograph captioned "Mrs. Florence Gell ... First Woman Councillor in History of York Township", The Toronto Star, Dec 7, 1953, p. 14.
  8. ^ "Election Briefs" (Reprint). Times and Guide. Weston, Ont. Dec 10, 1953. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  9. ^ "Florence Gell is Appointed Deputy Reeve" (Reprint). Times & Guide. Apr 17, 1958. p. 1. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  10. ^ "How the Votes Went: Suburban Elections" & "Big Majority Returns Tonks as Reeve", The Toronto Star, Dec 2, 1958, p. 8.
  11. ^ City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 211, Series 646, York Council Minutes. (see references)
  12. ^ Ryan. 2024. p. 7. (see references)
  13. ^ William Burrill, "Wolves howled outside Gayle Christie's door", The Toronto Star, Apr 5, 1981, p. D10 (online 76).
  14. ^ Brunet. 2001. (see references)
  15. ^ "Mayor, Reeve & Chairman". City of Toronto. 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  16. ^ Boylen. 1954. pp. 117–124. (see references)
  17. ^ "Election Comment" (Reprint). Weston Times. Dec 8, 1966. p. 2. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  18. ^ "Mrs. Gell is First Lady Head Of Ontario Traffic Conference" (Reprint). Weston Times. Principal Publishing Ltd. May 4, 1967. p. 1. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  19. ^ "The Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Minutes". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Feb 11, 1983. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
  20. ^ "Florence Gell Still Moving Upwards" (PDF), Humber Dialogue, 1 (1): 6, Mar 1983, archived from the original on April 26, 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  21. ^ "Kids love conservation school says Florence Gell" (Reprint). Weston Times. Dec 12, 1968. p. 3. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  22. ^ "Conservation Seminar Held at Woodbridge" (Reprint). The Liberal (Richmond Hill). Dec 12, 1968. p. 6. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  23. ^ "Claremont Conservation Area: New field training centre officially opens March 31" (Reprint). The Tribune (Stouffville). Mar 26, 1970. p. 15. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  24. ^ Ryan. 2024. pp. 9–10, 17 & 29.; McLean. 2004. pp. 18, 151–161. (see references)
  25. ^ "First winner of conservation prize" (Reprint). Weston Times. Dec 27, 1968. p. 5. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  26. ^ "Photograph captioned: "A year-end gift for conservation ..."" (Reprint). Weston Times. Jan 3, 1969. p. 1. Retrieved April 22, 2025.
  27. ^ a b "Church offers day care facilities" (Reprint). Weston Times. Aug 21, 1969. p. 4. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  28. ^ "Avenue of Boutiques a success" (Reprint). Weston-York Times. Nov 9, 1972. p. 5. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  29. ^ Ryan. 2024. pp. 11–12. (see references)
  30. ^ Journal of the Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Toronto of the Anglican Church of Canada, 1969, p. 47; 1970, p. 48; 1971, p. 57.
  31. ^ The Church of the Advent. 2005. (see references)
  32. ^ City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 211, Series 646, File 32, York Council Minutes, Committee of General Purposes, Jan 15, 1943, pp. 13 & 16.
  33. ^ "Biographical Data, Re: Florence Gell", 1974, Archives of Ontario, RG32–44, B362334, File: Humber College – Board Composition.
  34. ^ Gell. 2000. pp. 68 & 115.
  35. ^ "Fashion Show Presented by School Assoc" (Reprint). Times & Guide. Mar 30, 1950. p. 3. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  36. ^ "Jack and Jill Club Stage First Party", The Toronto Star, Feb 16, 1946, p. 20.
  37. ^ "Suburban Topics in Brief: Seek Recreation Group", The Toronto Star, Jan 28, 1948, p. 4.
  38. ^ City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 211, Series 646, File 37, York Council Minutes, Committee of General Purposes, Jan 28, 1948, p. 36.
  39. ^ "Penny Fair in York Township" (Reprint). Times & Guide. Aug 15, 1946. p. 4. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  40. ^ City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 211, Series 646, File 41, York Council Minutes, Committee of General Purposes, Jan 28, 1952, pp. 55—56; Mar 10, 1952, pp. 133—134.
  41. ^ "I.O.D.E. Chapters Report on Activities of Year 1949", The Toronto Star, Mar 6, 1950, p. 23.
  42. ^ "Calls Cumming Report Plan for Feeble-Minded", The Toronto Star, Feb 21, 1953, p. 16.
  43. ^ "Province of Ontario - General Election 1963" (Reprint). Times & Guide. Sep 12, 1963. p. 6. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  44. ^ "York told to act on day care centres", The Toronto Star, May 22, 1970, p. 33.
  45. ^ "Church to continue fireworks display" (Reprint). Weston-York Times. June 3, 1971. p. 2. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  46. ^ "Fireworks display at Smythe Park" (Reprint). Weston Times. May 16, 1968. p. 3. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  47. ^ Margaret Aitken & Byrne Hope Sanders. Hey Ma! I Did It. Toronto: Clarke, Irwin & Company Ltd., 1953, pp. 119, 170 & 180. (Accessed May 3, 2025)
  48. ^ "York South PC's must make difficult decision" (Reprint). Weston-York Times. Feb 18, 1971. p. 1. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  49. ^ "New bid for citizenship office ... Citizens Appointed" (Reprint). Weston Times. January 30, 1969. p. 5. Retrieved Apr 15, 2025.
  50. ^ "Fairbank Focus: Happy birthday to Bill" (Reprint). Weston-York Times. Apr 13, 1972. p. 5. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  51. ^ "York to vote on hospitals", The Toronto Star, Nov 12, 1974, p. A8.
  52. ^ a b Ontario Corporation № 696540, St. Hilda's Towers Foundation, Application for Incorporation, Dec 31, 1986. Available through the Ontario Business Registry in the corporation's "Archive Document Package", https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-business-registry
  53. ^ "Appointments to Boards" (Reprint). Weston Mosaic. Jan 1980. p. 8. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  54. ^ "Daffodil sale goes well" (PDF), Coven, 8 (12): 8, Apr 10, 1978, archived from the original on May 30, 2023{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  55. ^ "United Appeal carries Load of Retarded Kids" (Reprint). Weston Times-Avertiser. Jul 4, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  56. ^ "Fund raising with a difference" (Reprint). Weston-York Times. Jul 27, 1972. p. 2. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  57. ^ "Haney Centre". Toronto District School Board: Frank Oak Secondary School. 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
  58. ^ Ryan. 2024. pp. 19–20. (see references)
  59. ^ Humber College. 1977. p. 6. (see references)
  60. ^ "Official Recognitions" (PDF). Minutes of the Council of the City of Toronto. Apr 23 – May 2, 2001. pp. 302–303. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  61. ^ "Organization – Ontario Traffic Council". Ontario Traffic Council. 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  62. ^ "OTC Life Members". Ontario Traffic Council. Oct 8, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  63. ^ Ryan. 2024. p. 47. (see references); Sandra Grilo, Manager, Ontario Traffic Council
  64. ^ "The Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Executive Committee Minutes". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Oct 4, 1978. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  65. ^ "The Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Minutes". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Oct 12, 1978. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  66. ^ The Church of the Advent. 1978. (see references)
  67. ^ "The Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Executive Committee Minutes". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Oct 31, 1984. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  68. ^ City of York. 1984. (see references)
  69. ^ York By-Law № 15500 of Nov 5, 1956, available upon request from the City of Toronto Archives, archives@toronto.ca
  70. ^ "Humber's 1979 Honor Roll of Special Award Winners" (PDF), Humber Happenings, 6 (2): 9–10, Christmas 1979, archived from the original on April 26, 2022{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  71. ^ "The Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Executive Committee Minutes". Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. Apr 12, 1985. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  72. ^ The Church of the Advent. 2005.; Ryan. 2024. p. 23. (see references)
  73. ^ "Civics Awards Night" (Reprint). Weston Mosaic. Nov 1981. p. 1. Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  74. ^ ""Tammy" Nadia De Franco" (Reprint). The York News. May 1980. p. 1. Retrieved April 18, 2025.

References

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Online, open access

  • Christopher D. Ryan. (2024). Florence Gell: A Biographical Sketch. Toronto, Ontario: Christopher D. Ryan, December 2024. (ISBN 978-0-9869471-5-5) (Note: Includes extensive quotes from cited contemporary sources, as well as seven pages of additional citations from primary and reliable secondary sources.)
  • Christopher Wilson, Cinemagic Productions. (1981). The Battle of Beech Hall. (released 1982) (accessed May 11, 2025)
  • Humber College. (1977). "Gell Appointed Board Chairman", Humber Happenings, Winter 1977, Vol. 3, № 5, p. 6.
  • City of Toronto, Florence Gell Park (accessed May 11, 2025).
  • Humber College Archives, Search
  • Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Minute Books
  • Weston Historical Society Digital Newspaper Collection, Search

Online, limited access

Offline

  • The Church of the Advent. (2005). Florence Gell Memorial Bursary. Background: Mrs. Florence Gell 1906-2001, dated 08/06/2005. Anglican Diocese of Toronto Archives, Accession 2016-09, Box 8, File Florence Gell Memorial Scholarship Fund.
  • Carrie Brunet. (2001). "York politician Florence Gell was always a lady", The York Guardian, March 30, 2001, Vol. 5, № 13, p. 3.
  • John Gell. (2000). "Mrs. Florence Gell: The First Lady of York" in Memories of Lambton Park. Toronto, Ontario: John Gell, August 2000, pp. 143–146. (ISBN 0-9687461-0-1)
  • City of York. (1984). Biography of Florence Gell of March 1984, and Letter of December 3, 1984, to Florence Gell regarding the Ontario Bicentennial Medal. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 211, City of York, Series 1620, File 2874, Ontario - bicentennial celebrations. (Obtained via Freedom of Information Request 2024-00129)
  • The Church of the Advent. (1978). "One of Our Members has been Honoured", Advent Bulletin, November 1978, Anglican Diocese of Toronto Archives, Accession 2016-09, Box 4. (Gell receives York's Citizen of the Decade award.)
  • City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 211, Series 646, York Council Minutes, and Committee of General Purposes Minutes. (Each annual volume of the Council Minutes begins with a list of its members for that year.)
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