Basil Hall (Canadian politician)

Basil H. Hall (1912 - April 26, 1990) was mayor of North York in Metropolitan Toronto from 1970 to 1972; the second person to hold the position. As mayor, Hall was a leading proponent of completing the construction of the Spadina Expressway so that it would link to the Gardiner Expressway, even after it was cancelled due to downtown opposition[1] and advocated the construction of a domed stadium in Toronto with the Downsview Airport lands being his favoured site.[2][3]

Hall studied architecture at the University of Toronto before joining the family construction business in the 1930s. After being a chinchilla rancher following World War II, he entered the photography business in the 1950s and ran a successful photographic supply and microfilming company.[4][3]

He was first elected to North York's township council in 1955, on his second attempt, and went on to be elected to North York's executive, the Board of Control, in the 1960s.

Hall was a pro-development politician and as head of North York's development committee, prior to becoming mayor, advocated the Flemingdon Park development as well as the introduction of high-rise apartments in Willowdale around Yonge Street.

Hall was a founding member of the board of governors of Seneca College in 1966 and helped secure the property that became the college's first and main campus and played a similar role in the development and construction of North York General Hospital.[2]

He was elected mayor in 1969 by defeating Liberal candidate Ron Barbaro; Hall ran without party affiliation and campaigned against the introduction of political parties into municipal councils.[4][5]

Hall pledged to serve only one term as mayor and kept his promise, not running for re-election in 1972, endorsing Mel Lastman as his successor.[2] As mayor, he continued to support development and supported the construction of the Spadina Expressway over the opposition of residents in downtown Toronto He was disappointed when the provincial government, under Premier Bill Davis, agreed to cancel the expressway in 1971 - halting its construction at Lawrence Avenue, although Hall was successful in convincing Metro Council to extend the expressway south to Eglinton Avenue as a right-of-way divided roadway.[6]

Hall died of cancer in 1990, at the age of 78.[3]