Nathan Phillips (
1892-
1976) was a
Canadian politician and popular
Mayor of Toronto.
He was the first Toronto mayor of the Jewish faith and served as mayor from 1955 until he retired in 1962 after thirty-six years in municipal politics. Phillips was dubbed "mayor of all the people". Until his election all mayors had been Protestant and virtually all had been members of the Orange Order who dominated the city's political and business establishment. Phillips became mayor by defeating Mayor Leslie Howard Saunders , an Orangemen, who had stoked controversy with his sectarian comments about the importance of the Battle of the Boyne. Phillips' victory marked a turning point in Toronto history and its transformation from a Protestant, staunchly British and conservaitve city to a modern multicultural metorpolis.
He is best remembered for being the driving force behind the construction of Toronto's New City Hall and the selection of a striking avant-garde design by Finnish architect Viljo Revell. Nathan Phillips Square which is part of the design and lies in front of the building was named in honour of the mayor.
