The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto
52% of Torontonians are women. It's time we tell their
Image: Myseum of Toronto.
An unstoppable force, June Rowlands was the first woman to be Toronto’s Mayor, TTC Commissioner, and Chair of the Toronto Police Commission.
1924 - 2017 | Toronto's First Female Mayor
June Rowlands was a dedicated public servant, commencing her career in municipal politics with her election to City Council in 1976. In 1991, she made history by becoming Toronto’s 60th Mayor and the city’s first female mayor, holding the position until 1994. She didn’t stop there; she became the first woman to lead both the Toronto Transit Commission and the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission.
Rowlands was a passionate advocate for affordable housing and a tireless defender of Toronto’s ravines and historical neighbourhoods, leaving a lasting impact on the city’s landscape and community.
Explore more women who transformed Toronto.
Explore More
Content
The 52: Stories of Women Who Transformed Toronto
52% of Torontonians are women. It's time we tell their stories.
Marcus Garvey and the UNIA
Learn how --
Winners & Losers
Sports Histories of Toronto
Meet The 52
Explore the full list of 52 remarkable women that make up the foundation of our multi-year project.
Bianca Andreescu
Bianca Andreescu has raised the global profile of tennis for Canadians. As one of the youngest winners of a Grand Slam singles title, Andreescu is the highest-ranked Canadian in Women’s
Beatrice Worsley
Beatrice Worsley is recognized as Canada’s first female computer scientist. Her lifetime of research and work in the field were at the forefront of Canada’s burgeoning computer science sector.
Menaka Thakkar
Menaka Thakkar established Canada’s first professional Indian dance company in 1978. Thakkar blended different cultural dance styles to co-create a performance called “East Meets West” in which she bridged cultural
Kathleen Taylor
Kathleen Taylor breaks ground no matter what industry she stands in. An accomplished business leader, her career continues to break barriers and light the way for women at major corporate
Emily Stowe
Emily Stowe was a founder of the Canadian Women’s Suffrage Association and the first female physician to publicly practice medicine in Ontario.
Min Sook Lee
Min Sook Lee is an industry-recognized filmmaker who advocates for social justice at the intersection of art and social change through her films and professorship at OCAD University.