George Bennett

George Bennett was the 19th mayor of Windsor and represented Windsor-Sandwich as a Member of Provincial Parliament from 1943 to 1945.

After moving to Windsor, Bennett became very active in the Street Railwaymen’s Union, and even served as its president for 11 years prior to retirement. He became engaged in George Bennettcivic politics in 1931, when he was elected as alderman for the City Council. He remained alderman while David Croll served as mayor, and was then elected Mayor himself in 1935. Later that year, the old Windsor, Sandwich, East Windsor, and Walkerville united to form the new City of Windsor. Bennett was re-elected to serve as the mayor again, and he remained in the post until 1936, when he was defeated by Col. Ernest S. Wigle. During his time as mayor, Bennett continued to work as a street car operator. In 1943, he was elected to serve in the Ontario Legislature as MPP by the Windsor-Sandwich riding. He remained in that post until 1945.

Bennett immigrated to Windsor in 1920 from Derbyshire, England. In England, he was a circuit preacher, and even after moving to Windsor remained active in the Calvary United Church. Bennett was married to Hannah Elizabeth Hackney, and they had two sons. They lived on Josephine Avenue in Windsor. Bennett passed away in 1948 following a lengthy illness.

Sources:

Ex-Windsor Mayor Dies. (1948, Mar 1). Windsor Daily Star.

George Bennett MPP.” Ontario Legislative Assembly Parliamentary History. Retrieved April 18, 2018

Statistics Canada Fonds. (1921). Sixth Census of Canada, 1921. Series RG31. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada