Wayne Thomson
Canadian politician

Wayne Thomson
20th Mayor of Niagara Falls
In office
1978–1983
Preceded byGeorge Bukator
Succeeded byBill Smeaton
In office
1991 – November 30, 2003
Preceded byBill Smeaton
Succeeded byTed Salci
Personal details
Born (1939-09-24) September 24, 1939 (age 86)
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
PartyIndependent
Children3
Residence(s)Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
OccupationPolitician

Wayne Thomson (born September 24, 1939) is a Canadian politician who served as the mayor of Niagara Falls from 1978 to 1983 and from 1991 to 2003. He also served as an alderman from 1968 to 1978 and as a city councillor from 2010 to 2024.

Background

Thomson was born September 24, 1939, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. His father was a firefighter who would go on to serve as the city's fire chief. He attended Maple Street School and Niagara Falls Collegiate. He earned a diploma in public health inspection from Ryerson University. Prior to entering politics, he worked as a public health inspector.[1]

Political career

Thomson was elected an alderman in Niagara Falls in the 1968 municipal election.[2] While on the city council, he chaired the United Way campaign, sat on the Social Planning council, and served on the board of a retirement home.[1]

Thomson was elected mayor in 1978, defeating incumbent mayor George Bukator.[3] He was re-elected in 1980, defeating Bukator a second time,[4] and was re-elected to a third term in 1982, defeating Bukator once again.[5]

In 1983, Thomson was caught up in two controversies in quick succession. In the spring of 1983, he attended a convention in Lucerne, Switzerland. While there, he accepted a free vacation for November of that year from another attendee, Rudy Baur, a Swiss developer who was president of a Toronto-based development firm with major holdings in Niagara Falls. He cancelled the vacation shortly after the story was published in the Niagara Falls Review.[1][6]

Shortly afterwards, the Niagara Falls Review published another story about a land purchase made by Thomson's then-fiancée Bonnie Dickson. His fiancée bought some land in Niagara Falls from a seller who did not want it to be sold to Marineland. Seven months later, she sold the plot to Marineland. Marineland owner John Holer stated she acted as trustee and was accompanied by Thomson when the arrangements were made. Thomson apologized for being "naive" and suggested the city council launch an investigation into the land deal.[1][6]

However, any plans to launch an investigation were dropped when Thomson abruptly resigned as mayor in December 1983. He denied that his resignation was related to the controversies. Instead, he said he was resigning to retain his position as a health inspector at the local health department, from which he had taken a leave of absence while mayor. The province had transferred jurisdiction of the health unit to the Niagara Region, effective January 1, 1984, and provincial regulations prohibited him from holding elected office as a regional employee.[1][6][7]

In 1991, Thomson returned to politics and was re-elected as mayor.[7] On September 1, 1998, he was assaulted in his office by Joe Pietrangelo, a former city worker who was meeting with Thomson to discuss the city's decision to rezone his family property.[8] Pietrangelo drew a metal cane and struck Thomson repeatedly before his assistant was able to intervene.[9] Thomson was left hospitalized and required surgery.[10] Pietrangelo was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.[11] However, in 2008, he was found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.[8]

Thomson was defeated by Ted Salci in the 2003 municipal election.[12] He later ran and won election to Niagara Falls City Council as a councillor in the 2010 municipal election.[13] He stepped down in September 2024.[14]

Personal life

Thomson married Bonnie Dickson in October 1983.[1] He has three daughters from a previous marriage.[15]

Awards and recognition

In October 2024, the city of Niagara Falls awarded Thomson the Key to the City.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Herod, Doug (February 20, 1998). "The emperor of Niagara Falls". and "Wayne Thomson: The Emperor of Niagara Falls". The Standard. St. Catharines, Ontario. pp. A1–A3. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  2. ^ "All 7 aldermen returned". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. December 3, 1968. p. 13. Retrieved September 1, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Le Page, Lorraine (November 14, 1978). "Thomson upset winner in Falls". The Standard. Niagara Falls, Ontario. p. 14. Retrieved September 1, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Wilson, Wayne (November 11, 1980). "Mayor credits Graaskamp ads with giving campaign momentum". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. p. 1. Retrieved September 1, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Newell, Annita (November 9, 1982). "Handshake ends bitter rivalry". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. p. 1. Retrieved September 1, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c Kelly, Frances (December 21, 1983). "Mayor's resignation puts a stop to probes of land deal, free trip". Toronto Star. Niagara Falls, Ontario. p. C10. Retrieved September 1, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b "Thomson landslide". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. November 13, 1991. p. 1. Retrieved September 1, 2025 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ^ a b "Attacker of former Falls mayor dies". NiagaraThisWeek.com. Fort Erie Times. November 18, 2013. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  9. ^ Gillis, Charlie (September 9, 1999). "Niagara Falls mayor didn't fear beating, he feared for his life: Accused irate over zoning". National Post. Don Mills, Ontario. p. A9. ProQuest 329605307
  10. ^ "Man gets 25 years for beating mayor with pipe". The Sudbury Star. Sudbury, Ontario. March 4, 2000. ProQuest 348724285
  11. ^ Makin, Kirk (March 4, 2000). "Beating of Niagara Falls mayor earns man 25 years in jail". The Globe and Mail. Welland, Ontario. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.(subscription required)
  12. ^ McCarten, James (November 11, 2003). "Across Ontario, tides of change". The Kingston Whig-Standard. Kingston, Ontario. p. 8. ProQuest 352807690
  13. ^ a b Goldberg, Jay (October 15, 2024). "Niagara Falls gives Thomson keys to the city". The Niagara Independent. Niagara Falls, Ontario. Archived from the original on December 3, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  14. ^ Spiteri, Ray (September 10, 2024). "Wayne Thomson 'bled Niagara Falls': Longtime politician steps down from city council". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.(subscription required)
  15. ^ Larocque, Corey (October 4, 2003). "Falls mayoral candidates". Niagara Falls Review. Niagara Falls, Ontario. p. 3. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wayne_Thomson&oldid=1309710382"