First female mayor of London, Ont. Jane Bigelow has died
Condolences began pouring in Tuesday night as word spread that former mayor Jane Bigelow has died. She was 93.
A trailblazing politician, holding the position from 1972 to 1978, Bigelow was the first woman to serve as London’s mayor. She then served on the Board of Control until the early 1980s.
In a tweet, current London Mayor Ed Holder said, "What a loss, and, yet, what an inspiration she was, and will forever remain. Jane’s legacy lives on - from paving the way for greater diversity in local politics to her passion for the environment. We mourn her loss, and thank her family for sharing her brilliance with Londoners."
London’s third female mayor, Anne Marie Decicco-Best, is also paying tribute to its first, saying Bigelow pushed to change the fabric of the Forest City.
“Being a woman and being the first female mayor of London is very significant, but it wasn’t about that for her. She cared about the environment, she cared about the people, she cared about the social fabric of the community.”
Bigelow entered municipal politics in a time men fully dominated City Hall.
But while most are reflecting on Bigelow’s distinction as the city’s first female mayor, Decicco-Best says Bigelow should be honoured for much more.
An avid cyclist, she was a strong advocate for the environment and pushed to promote bicycle trails.
She also was among a group of politicians who killed London’s planned freeway early in her first term.
In a 2019 interview with CTV News London, Bigelow conceded, in hindsight, the freeway “might not have been quite as disastrous” as she thought at the time.
Bigelow also made waves in 1973, breaking protocol by not wearing a hat while meeting with Queen Elizabeth in Victoria Park.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.