William Allen and Frederick “Big Daddy” Gardiner Toronto visionary

On my walk through Mt. Pleasant and Mt. Hope Catholic Cemeteries in Toronto, I discovered the graves of two former Chairmen of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto — Fred “Big Daddy” Gardiner and William R. Allen.

Both were larger-than-life personalities who played pivotal roles in shaping the city we know today, leaving lasting legacies—literally carved into Toronto’s landscape with the Gardiner Expressway and Allen Expressway bearing their names.

Paul Godfrey, Metro’s fourth chair, once remarked that William Allen gave Metro its “human touch.” During Allen’s tenure, the Bloor-Danforth and University subway lines were opened, transforming public transit and connecting communities across Toronto.

Fred “Big Daddy” Gardiner, on the other hand, was a relentless champion of growth and infrastructure. His vision and drive brought about many major capital projects, including the iconic Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway. He was a man who got things done.

Gardiner also pioneered what we now call Parks and Recreation in Toronto, developing over 3,500 acres of natural parkland and nurturing the 600-acre Toronto Islands. In many ways, he was Toronto’s own Robert Moses, the visionary urban planner famously associated with New York City.

Fred Gardiner passed away in August 1983 at the age of 88, while William Allen died in 1985 at the age of 66.

1919-1985 (William)
1895-1983 (Frederick)