Sonnee Cohen

Sonnee Ruben Cohen is a former businessman and candidate for political candidate in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He campaigned in numerous municipal elections, and was an independent candidate in the 1967 provincial campaign.

Cohen was a trustee with B'nai B'rith in the 1940s, and later served on the executive of the Toronto's Herzl Zion Club in the 1950s. ["To install offices", "Toronto Star", 2 April 1949, 30; "Jack H. Papernick Herzl Zion chief", "Toronto Star", 27 June 1953, 42.]

Private career

Cohen was a businessman and public relations worker in private life. He worked for Toronto's Dominion Dry Ginger Ale Co. for several years. ["Saccharin pop hits the market", "Toronto Star", 8 November 1969, 66.] He also designed products for children. In 1955, he created a hockey puck with ball bearings that could be used throughout the entire year. [Mat Dunnell, "Speaking on sport", "Toronto Star", 29 March 1955, 16.] He later designed a safety kit for schoolchildren. [Lotta Dempsey, "The veneer rubs off", "Toronto Star", 18 April 1963, 51.]

Cohen was listed as chairman of the Canadian Diabetic Association in 1965, and as Vice-Chair of the North York Safety Council in 1966. ["It was lively all over town", "Toronto Star", 30 October 1965, 59; "`Canada's third biggest' votes without thrills", "Toronto Star", 3 December 1966, 9.] He asked Canadians to support a mobile diabetes detection unit in 1970, and promoted healthy eating habits later in the decade. [Sonnee R. Cohen, letter, "Toronto Star", 14 February 1970, 2; "Visitors at food building fed advice on proper eating", "Toronto Star", 25 August 1973, A14.]

Cohen founded Worldwide Diabetes Information Service in 1977, a non-profit organization specializing in diabetes information. His work was profiled in a 1985 "Toronto Star" feature. [Leslie Fulton, "Sonnee Cohen's hobby has turned into an obsession", "Toronto Star", 13 August 1985, NR11; Stasia Evasuk, "Fun times a priority in 'society of friends'", "Toronto Star", 21 July 1988, H3.]

Cohen was listed in Baycrest and Baycrest Foundation's "Family of Supporters" list for 2005-06. [ [http://www.baycrest.org/documents/Baycrest_AnnualReview_2005-06.pdf Baycrest and Baycrest Foundation, Annual Review 2005-06] , accessed 18 October 2006.]

Perennial candidate

Cohen campaigned for North York's public school board in the 1964, 1966 and 1969 municipal elections, for North York City Council in 1972, 1974 and 1991, and for the North York Board of Control in 1982 and 1985. He lost each time.

Cohen campaigned as a reform candidate in 1969, and was endorsed by the North York Liberal Association. ["North York Liberals back reformer", "Toronto Star", 24 November 1969, 30.]

During the 1985 contest, he called for better conditions in nursing homes. [Dyanne Rivers, "Traffic an issue in controllers' race", "Globe and Mail", 6 November 1985, A6.] Seventy-seven years old in 1991, he centred his campaign on improved health care and the prevention of child and senior abuse. [Stan Josey, "Spadina ward is called home by diverse ethnic mix", "Toronto Star", 24 October 1991, NY2.]

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