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Bill Davis wins 2010 Jane Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award
May, 2010
Former Ontario Premier and honorary BOMA Toronto member William “Bill” Davis will receive the 2010 Jane Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award on June 3rd at this year’s Urban Leadership awards.
Presented by the Canadian Urban Institute, the Jane Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award is given to a person who has made an extraordinary contribution to the public realm, over many years and in more than one field, thereby gaining reputation and acclaim for their vision, passion and impact.
During his over 25 years in public life, Davis made extraordinary contributions to the public real in at least three distinct areas: education, urban development and the environment. Davis was first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1959; he served as Minister of Education beginning in 1962 and later took on the additional role of Minister of University Affairs. In addition to creating Brock and Trent universities, he established Ontario’s community college system. There are now 24 colleges of applied arts and technology across the province. Davis also oversaw massive increases in primary and secondary school educational expenditures and was responsible for reorganizing the role and responsibilities of school boards, trimming their number from over 3500 to 192. He also improved access to student loans and created the TVOntario educational television network.
Shortly after taking the reins as premier in 1971, Davis stepped in to halt construction of the Spadina Expressway in Toronto, famously stating, “If we are building a transportation system to serve the automobile, the Spadina Expressway would be a good place to start. But if we are building a transportation system to serve people, the Spadina Expressway is a good place to stop.” The late Jane Jacobs was one of those leading the “Stop Spadina” movement in protest against the expressway. The positive impact of this decision not only affected the path of urban development in Toronto but resonated in cities across Canada and beyond.
The early 1970s were a time of rapid growth in the Toronto region, placing a strain on the natural environment. In 1973, Premier Davis’ government enacted the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act, recognizing the need to preserve and protect the Escarpments unique features. This led to the establishment of the Niagara Escarpment Commission and the creation of the Niagara Escarpment Plan, Canada’s first environmental land-use plan. In 1990, UNESCO designated the Niagara Escarpment as a World Biosphere Reserve in recognition of its ecological significance. The Escarpment also forms a significant part of Ontario’s Greenbelt, established in 2005.
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