Hiram E. McCallum

Hiram Emerson McCallum (1900 - January 13, 1989) was a mayor of Toronto, Ontario from 1948-1951.

Born in East Caledon, Ontario, his first job was at the Mail & Empire newspaper as a clerk in the advertising department. From there, he started his own printing plant in 1931. Concern about pollution in Toronto's Eastern beaches caused McCallum to join a small group of other concerned citizens. Then in 1941, he became an alderman for Ward 8. From that start, he moved up (in 1946) to vice-chairperson of the city of Toronto's board of control. It was in 1948 that then mayor Bob Sauders resigned to become chairman of Ontario Hydro. McCallum thus became mayor.

As mayor he started Toronto's Yonge Street line and worked towards a regional government. Then in 1950, some 10 years after becoming a politician, he opened a new sewage treatment plant that would reduce pollution in Toronto's Eastern Beaches – his original reason for becoming a politician.

In 1952 he was made assistant general manager of the Canadian National Exhibition, then in 1964 made general manager. This would be a position he would hold until his retirement at age 65.

Personal life

With his wife Margaret he had a daughter Dorothy and he was the grandfather of four children.

References

*"Toronto Star", January 14, 1989, page A19