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←Toronto City Council · 2026-05-20 · 2026.MM41.25

The filed record

Dedicating June 4 as Tom Longboat Day in Toronto - by Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin

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The decision

2026-05-20 · Toronto City Council · adopted

As filed

City Council on May 20 and 21, 2026, adopted the following: 1. City Council proclaim June 4, 2026, and every June 4 thereafter, as Tom Longboat Day in the City of Toronto.

The vote

Adopt Item · Carried, 25-0

For (25)Alejandra Bravo, Amber Morley, Anthony Perruzza, Ausma Malik, Brad Bradford, Chris Moise, Dianne Saxe, Frances Nunziata, Gord Perks, Jamaal Myers, James Pasternak, Jon Burnside, Josh Matlow, Lily Cheng, Michael Thompson, Mike Colle, Neethan Shan, Olivia Chow, Parthi Kandavel, Paul Ainslie, Paula Fletcher, Rachel Chernos Lin, Shelley Carroll, Stephen Holyday, Vincent Crisanti
Absent (1)Nick Mantas
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On the agenda

As the city filed it

Thomas Charles Longboat (Gagwe:gih) was an Onondaga long distance runner from Six Nations of the Grand River, Olympian, First World War veteran, residential school survivor, and distinguished City of Toronto employee. Born in 1886 in Ohsweken, Tom Longboat became one of the most famous athletes of the early 20th century, helping establish marathon running as an international sport. He became the first Indigenous person to win the Boston Marathon in 1907, before going on to represent Canada at the 1908 Olympic Games in London.

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Known for his innovative training methods, Longboat's pride and connection to his Onondaga heritage and traditions drove him throughout his competitive life. In February 1916, Tom Longboat enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces, serving on the Western Front in France and Belgium as a dispatch carrier. Returning to Canada in 1919, he went on to work for the City of Toronto for over 17 years in the street cleaning department. Following his retirement, he returned to live in Six Nations, where he remained until his death in 1949. Tom's legacy of athletics and public service continue to inspire us today. In 1951, the Tom Longboat Awards were established for Indigenous athletes who demonstrate excellence in sport. Each year, a run is organized by members of the Longboat family and hosted in Six Nations to commemorate Tom Longboat Day. In 2008, Bill 120 proclaimed June 4 of every year as Tom Longboat Day in Ontario. The reason for urgency for this motion is because June 4 will occur before the next meeting of Toronto City Council.

Staff recommended

Councillor Mike Colle, seconded by Councillor Rachel Chernos Lin, recommends that: 1. City Council proclaim June 4, 2026, and every June 4 thereafter, as Tom Longboat Day in the City of Toronto.

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