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.
