Against All Odds: The Story of William Peyton Hubbard: Black Leader and Municipal Reformer

by Stephen Hubbard

The first full-length biography of the popular Toronto politician ("The Cicero of Council") who began his career as a baker and became alderman in the most affluent, white ward of the city; one of the first elected controllers, and finally acting-mayor of Toronto. Hubbard, a reformer on municipal issues, fought for public ownership of the city's water supply, supported Adam Beck's campaign for hydro-electric power, and encouraged the creation of a charity for the poor and homeless. He was returned to office 15 times between 1894 and 1914, and became the most important municipal politician of the period -- at a time when most Blacks were still barred from Toronto hotels, restaurants and bars, and an active political life seemed all but impossible.

140 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1987