By Sean Delaney
Mel Lastman has died at the age of 88.
“The best part about him was what you saw was what you got. There were no two or three different sides, whether it was him as a politician, a businessman or a father, he was just genuinely a great, great man,” said Mel’s son Blayne Lastman. “The public loved him, the people, the workers, any ethnicity, the men and the women because what you saw is what you got, and he cared about them. He made people know he cared about them first, second and third.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford sent a Saturday tweet, calling Lastman a “true leader and builder.”
“Mel, you will truly be missed,” Ford said. “My thoughts are with the Lastman family at this difficult time.”
Current Mayor John Tory commented “We are greatly saddened by the death of Mayor Mel Lastman, Toronto’s first Megacity Mayor. Our thoughts continue to be with Mayor Lastman’s family and friends at this time. He was a committed Mayor who worked tirelessly to make sure Toronto moved forward as one united city and into the 21st century. I want to thank members of the public for signing the condolence book – in-person or online – to pay tribute to Mayor Lastman. He was a kind, good-hearted man with a larger-than-life personality and he will be missed.
Federal Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole said Lastman was a remarkable leader and man.
Lastman was born in Toronto in 1933.
His parents, Rose and Louis, were immigrants from Poland.
He married Marilyn Bornstein when he was 21 and had two sons, Dale and Blayne.
After high school, he began to work at a furniture store on College Street. It wasn’t long until his gregarious nature and heartfelt way of dealing with customers built a name for him, and he quickly established himself as one of the area’s successful salesman.
He evolved into selling high-end appliances and branded himself Mr Laundry (or the “Bad Boy”).
Sales has always been in his blood as he worked in Toronto’s famous Kensington Market as a child selling fruit and vegetables.
When he was just 22 years of age, he opened his first Bad Boy Furniture location at Kennedy Road and Eglinton Avenue in Scarborough. He sold used appliances.
“He taught my brother and me how to work and how to respect a buck,” Blayne said. “Good things come to those who work really, really hard.”
Bad Boy Furniture soon grew into a chain of stores around the Toronto area.
Mel was known for his creativity in advertising, showing his love for his stores and his city through his outlandish commercials and events. He sold Bad Boy in 1975 when he decided to serve his community and put his name into politics full-time. Mel ran in the Ontario general election.
“People in Toronto obviously have these grandiose memories of Mel and how he was running the city,” said granddaughter Sam. “His charisma and all those things. And at home, all those things did come through just in different ways, I guess. He was very playful; he would have wrestling matches with all the grandkids, we would sneak away and watch movies at night, those characteristics everyone sees in a public forum, it’s not exactly the same as getting him at home. I’m going to miss that.”
The Bad Boy trademark was bought by The Brick however they didn’t take advantage of the name and allowed that trademark purchase to eventually expire. Blayne brought Bad Boy back to life in 1991.
“It was actually a struggle to get dad’s support initially, as he was concerned about the economic climate” said Blayne. However, the Lastman creativity came out in an advertising partnership between father and son. Mel would make cameo appearances in his famous Bad Boy character with son Blayne.
“Though Mel was not working at Bad Boy at all, he was still keeping tabs on me and us,” Sam said. “How’s work going? Where are you advertising? How are things? He was always on the pulse. It’s a skill that I think anyone should respect more. In trying to run anything, a business, a family, how you keep tabs on things and on top of everything. He was a master of that.”
“Nooooooooobody!”
The characteristic Bad Boy phrase would be all over Toronto airwaves again, and the furniture chain would be back with a bang, baby.
In 2006 it was renamed Lastman’s Bad Boy or Lastman’s Bad Boy Superstore.
Mel had begun a career in politics when he was first elected to the North York Board of Control in 1969.
In 1972 he defeated Paul Hunt for an open seat to be the mayor of North York.
Mel was known for his ability with people skills and for the effective operation of his city, including keeping property taxes low.
His tenure lasted 25 years, and the city would honour him by naming Mel Lastman Square at the North York Civic Centre. He is heavily credited for creating the centre, which at one time became known as the new downtown for Toronto.
In 1997, the city would amalgamate, and North York’s Mayor seat would be one of the seats absorbed by the new megacity. North York, Scarborough, East York, Etobicoke and Old Toronto would create a new single-tier Toronto.
Incumbent Toronto mayor Barbara Hall would run, but the people of Toronto were familiar with Mel, his hard-working nature, his honest disposition and the passionate support he had within his own community. He was re-elected in November 2000, with an incredible 80 per cent of the vote. Second place went to civic activist Tooker Gomberg, who had approximately eight per cent.
He was elected thanks to a strong base of support in the suburban cities and would serve two terms as Toronto’s mayor before choosing not to run again.
And if anything, Mel was known for his genuine love of people, which was evident throughout his political career. That big heart saw him draw support from all backgrounds and stripes, including Progressive Conservatives and Liberals, such as Norman Gardner, Mike Colle, Mike Feldman, Joe Volpe, and David Shiner. Mel was even known for a strong working and personal relationship with Jack Layton and Olivia Chow.
Lastman might be remembered by many for how he dealt with one of Toronto’s most significant snowstorms ever. But also how he brought about World Youth Day, improved and expanded Toronto’s subways. For the first time in decades, residents saw improvements in crucial Toronto neighbourhoods, including the Yonge and Sheppard area, which received significant enhancements.
Toronto lost a leader, a change-maker, and an inspiration.
But in these sombre days, we remember the father and the man.
“I’m going to miss the way he interacts with people,” Sam said. “He really showed everyone that, no one was too small for him.”
“I’ll miss how smart he was and the advice that he would give,” Blayne said. “He was honest, brutally honest, good, bad or different. He was the greatest man I’ll ever know.”
Mel was known for his creativity in advertising, showing his love for his store’s and his city through his outlandish commercials and events. He sold Bad Boy in 1975 when he decided to serve his community and put his name into politics full-time. Mel ran in the Ontario general election.
“People in Toronto obviously have these grandiose memories of Mel and how he was running the city,” said granddaughter Sam. “His charisma and all those things. And at home all those things did come through just in a different ways, I guess. He was very playful, he would have wrestling matches with all the grandkids, we would sneak away and watch movies at night, those characteristics everyone sees in a public forum, it’s not exactly the same as getting him at home. I’m going to miss that.”
The Bad Boy trademark was bought by The Brick.
The Brick however didn’t take advantage of the name and allowed that trademark purchase to eventually expire.
Blayne and business partner Marvin Kirsh brought Bad Boy back to life in 1991.
It was actually a struggle to get dad’s support initially, as he was concerned about the economic climate.
However, the Lastman creativity come out in an advertising partnership between father and son. Mel would make cameo appearances in his famous Bad Boy character with son Blayne.
“Though Mel was not working at Bad Boy at all, he was still keeping tabs on me and us,” Sam said. “How’s work going, where are you advertising? How are things? He was always on the pulse. It’s a skill that I think anyone we should respect more. In trying to run anything, a business, a family, how you keep tabs on things and keep on top of everything. He was a master of that.”
“Nooooooooobody!”
The characteristic Bad Boy phrase would be all over Toronto airwaves again, and the furniture chain would be back with a bang, baby.
In 2006 it was renamed Lastman’s Bad Boy or Lastman Bad Boy Superstore.
Mel had begun a career in politics when he was first elected to the North York Board of Control in 1969.
In 1972 he defeated Paul Hunt for an open seat to be the mayor of North York.
Mel was known for his ability with people, and for effective operation of his city including keeping property taxes low.
His tenure lasted 25 years, and the city would honour him by naming Mel Lastman Square at the North York Civic Centre. He is heavily credited for the creation of the centre which at one time became known as the new downtown for Toronto.
In 1997, the city would amalgamate, and North York’s Mayor seat would be one of the seats absorbed by the new mega city. North York, Scarborough, East York, Etobicoke and Old Toronto would create a new single-tier Toronto.
Incumbent mayor Barbara Hall would run, but the people of Toronto were familiar with Mel, his hard-working nature, his honest disposition and the passionate support he had within his own community.
He was elected thanks to a strong base of support in the suburban cities and would serve two terms as Toronto’s mayor before choosing not to run again in 2003 due to health issues.
He was re-elected in November 2000, with 80 per cent of the vote. Second place went to civic activist Tooker Gomberg, who had approximately eight per cent.
And if anything, Mel was known for his genuine love of people, and that was shown in a political career that saw him draw support from all backgrounds and stripes, including Progressive Conservatives and Liberals, such as Norman Gardner, Mike Colle, Mike Feldman, Joe Volpe, and David Shiner. Mel was even know for a strong working and personal relationship with Jack Layton and Olivia Chow.
Lastman gained national attention after for how he dealt with Toronto snowstorms, but also how he brought in World Youth Day, improved and expanded Toronto’s subways for the first time in decades and saw key neighbourhoods in Toronto, including the Yonge and Sheppard area receive serious improvements.
Toronto lost a leader, a change maker, and an inspiration.
But in these sombre days, we remember the father, and the man.
“I’m going to miss the way he interacts with people,” Sam said. “He really shows everyone, no one is too small for him.”
“I’ll miss how smart he was and the advice that he would give,” Blayne said. “He was honest, brutally honest, good, bad or different. He was the greatest man I’ll ever know.”