On July 7, 2017, co-op housing in Toronto lost one of its finest, Deputy Mayor Pam McConnell.
Pam was a community leader long before her first municipal victory. For nearly 40 years, she lived with her family at Spruce Court, the historically significant housing co-op in Toronto’s Cabbagetown district. She shared her leadership skills with the broader co-op sector too, representing Spruce Court as a delegate to the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT), being elected three times to the CHFT board, and serving as its President. Pam’s time on the board was an important period for CHFT as new co-ops opened and member services became an even bigger priority. She also saw the staff side of co-ops by working as a manager.
At the same time as she was making a difference in her co-op, McConnell expanded her attention to the broader community. She was first elected school board trustee in 1982. Twelve years later, she made the leap to Toronto City Council and continued on as a councillor in 1997 in the amalgamated Toronto. Eventually, she added Deputy Mayor to her list of duties until her untimely and sudden death at age 71.
Pam served as City Councillor under five mayors, leading the charge on many initiatives to improve the lives of vulnerable Torontonians. She developed the City’s anti-poverty strategy. She spearheaded the community centre at Sherbourne and Wellesley, home to one of North America’s top three circulation libraries. As part of the City’s approval of Trump Tower, Pam made sure Trump made a significant financial commitment to building an aquatic centre in Regent Park, a redevelopment initiative she led. The aquatic centre was named in Pam’s honour in 2021. She brought the women on Council together, regardless of their politics, on several issues, including Council’s apology to Jane Doe, the woman who successfully sued the Toronto Police for failing to warn women about a serial rapist in the Church & Wellesley community. When Pam moved the motion to have City Council apologize to Jane Doe, every woman on council seconded it. It passed 51 to 1.
Pam’s impact was felt beyond Toronto too. Councillor McConnell held a variety of roles with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. In particular, she took the lead in promoting women’s participation in municipal politics Canada-wide.
Her heart, though, remained in housing. McConnell reportedly once said she knew landlords in her ward often backed candidates trying to defeat her because she spoke up for tenants. When some co-ops had come out of their federal operating agreements leaving them without subsidies, Pam worked behind the scenes to get the City to fill the gap, proving she never forgot those in need and red tape couldn’t stop her. Pam overcame obstacles to get Local 75 Co-op on Richmond Street East built. She attended countless CHFT events, including member meetings, diversity scholarship nights, and community events. When CHFT wanted to show people from Atkinson Co-op what a co-op was like, Pam met with them at Spruce Court, inspiring them to pursue the conversion and she was in the crowd when the Randy Padmore Park was officially opened. Pam received the Century of Co-operation Award in 2010 and was made an Honorary Lifetime Board Member in 1998. Please join us in remembering the legacy of Pam McConnell in the work you do.
