- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 12
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- July 1983
- Physical Description
- 7 photographs : col. ; 20 x 25 cm or smaller + identification key
- Scope and Content
- File consists of seven photographs of Phil Givens participating in the official ceremony celebrating the amalgamation of the Toronto Harbour and Port Police with the Metropolitan Toronto Police. Identified in the photographs are: Phil Givens, Mayor Art Eggleton, Paul Godfrey, Monte Kwinter, and Chief Jack Ackroyd.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 7
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Date
- 13 May 1980
- Physical Description
- I folder of textual records
- 2 photographs : b&w. ; 20 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one letter from J. Douglas Creighton (publisher of the Toronto Sun) along with two photographs of Phil Givens attending a police event. Identified in the one of the photographs (left to right) is Chief Ackroyd, Chief Adamson, [?], J. Douglas Creighton and Philip Givens. Identified in the other photograph is (left to right) Dennis Flynn, Chief Adamson, and Phi Givens.
- Notes
- Photographs are by Jac Holland (Toronto Sun)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 11
- Material Format
- moving images
- Responsibility
- Film was produced by The Metropolitan Toronto Police Public Affairs Unit
- Date
- 17 June 1983
- Physical Description
- 1 DVD (ca. 55 min.) : duplicate, digital
- 1 videocassette (ca. 55 min.) : duplicate ; VHS
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two copies of video coverage of the official celebration of the amalgamation of the Toronto Harbour and Port Police with the Metropolitan Toronto Police.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 14
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- May 1984
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 13 x 10 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- The Primrose Club was founded in Toronto in 1907 as the Cosmopolitan Club, an elite Jewish men's social club. In 1959, the club's building at 41 Willcocks Street was expropriated by the University of Toronto (and currently houses the university's Faculty Club), and the club subsequently moved to a new building at Russell Road & St. Clair, designed by Kaplan & Sprachman. It has since been demolished and a condominium has been put up in its place by Ken Rotenberg, a Toronto developer.
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one photograph of Phil Givens meeting with a group of Police Chiefs. Identified in the photograph are (left to right): James Mackie, Harold Adamson, Jack Ackroyd, Jack Marks, Phil Givens.
- Name Access
- Primrose Club (Toronto, Ont.)
- Subjects
- Police
- Places
- Russell Hill Road (Toronto, Ont.)
- Saint Clair Avenue West (Toronto, Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 17
- Material Format
- moving images
- Responsibility
- Produced by the Metropolitan Toronto Police
- Date
- 9 Jul. 1985
- Physical Description
- 1 DVD (ca. 36 min.) : duplicate, digital; 1 videocassette (ca. 36 min.) : duplicate ; VHS
- Scope and Content
- File consists of two copies of video coverage of Phil Givens' retirement dinner celebrating his time with the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission. The dinner was held at the Island Yacht Club and included speeches by long-time friends and colleagues, the presentation of gifts, and some concluding remarks by Phil Givens.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 21
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [198-]
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 18 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one photograph of Phil and Min Givens attending the Metropolitan Toronto Police's twenty-fifth anniversary celebration.
- Subjects
- Anniversaries
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Level
- Series
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- moving images
- Date
- 1977-1985
- Physical Description
- 51 photographs : b&w and col. ; 28 x 21 cm or smaller and other material
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of textual records and other material documenting Phil Givens’ activities as chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission from 1977 to 1985. The textual records include messages of congratulations, general correspondence, speeches, and reports. The graphic material includes official portraits as well as snapshots documenting various police activities and events. Also included is a video cassette of a “sailpast” commemorating the merger of the harbour and port police forces with the Metropolitan Toronto Police Force in June 1983 as well as a video cassette of the retirement dinner for Givens held at the Island Yacht Club in July 1985.
- The series has been arranged into three sub-series: 5-1. Metropolitan Toronto Police Board of Commissioners; 5-2. Publicity; and 5-3. Official engagements.
- Notes
- Includes 13 cm of textual records, 2 DVDs and 2 videocassettes.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Publicity sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-2
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- [197-]-[198-]
- Physical Description
- 5 photographs : b&w and col. ; 26 x 20 cm and 20 x 26 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of five publicity photographs of Phil Givens in his role as the chairman of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission.
- Notes
- One of the photographs is by Boris Spremo
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Board of Commissioners series
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Board of Commissioners sub-series
- Level
- Sub-series
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-1
- Material Format
- textual record
- graphic material
- Date
- 1977-[198-]
- Physical Description
- 13 cm of textual records
- 4 photographs : b&w and col. ; 28 x 21 cm or smaller
- Scope and Content
- Sub-series consists of textual records and photographs that document Phil Givens’ activities as the Chairman of the Toronto Police Board of Commissioners. Included are photographs of the Metropolitan Board of Commissioners of Police and Givens’ swearing-in ceremony, messages of congratulation, correspondence, speeches, and internal reports.
- Notes
- Photographers and photography studios are identified on the photographs.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 16
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 9 May 1985
- Physical Description
- 4 photographs : col. ; 12 x 18 cm and 20 X 25 cm + identification key
- Scope and Content
- File consists of four photographs taken at Phil Givens' retirement dinner. Identified in one of the photographs is: Front Row (left to right): Gord Barratt; Douglas Cook; Donald Brooks; Stewart Shelson; Kenneth Robitaille; Phil Givens; Paul Walter; William Kerr; Sylvia Gosman; William Chambers; Ian MacDiarmid; George McGivern; Harry Norley. Middle Row (left to right): William Kirkland; John Gordon; Fred Alliston; Ross Codlin; George Cooper; Colin Fernall; Wilfred Death; Gerry Masters’ Malcolm George; Bob Sanderson; Herb Ellis; Norman Smith; Bill Wilson; George Davies; Roy Smith; John Kolenchuk. Back Row (left to right): Bruce Rawlinson; Alex Greenaway; Maurice Trenchard; Hugh Ross; John Booth; Ted Crawford; Ernest Penno; Wally Grove; James Gosby; Duncan Anderson.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Legal career series
- Canadian Awards Dinner file
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 8
- File
- 6
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 28 Nov.1985
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 20 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph of Phil Givens talking with the Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander, lieutenant governor of Ontario; Mrs. Mary C. Jackman; and Mr. Steven A. Stavro.
- Notes
- Photograph is by Boris Spremo
- Name Access
- Alexander, Lincoln M. (Lincoln MacCauley), 1922-
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Level
- Fonds
- Fonds
- 51
- Material Format
- multiple media
- Date
- [192-]-1990
- Physical Description
- 1.35 metres of textual records (20 vols.) and other material
- Admin History/Bio
- Philip (Phil) Gerald Givens, QC, (1922–1995) was a Canadian politician, judge, police commissioner, and active Jewish communal leader. He is is largely remembered as the fifty-fourth mayor of Toronto.
- Phil Givens was born in Toronto, the only son of Hyman and Mary Gevertz (Gewercz). As a youth, he attended Harbord Collegiate and graduated from the University of Toronto in political science and economics in 1945. In 1947, he married the former Minnie “Min” Rubin. They had two children together: Eleanor and Michael.
- Givens graduated as a lawyer from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1949; however, shortly thereafter, he decided to enter politics, running as a municipal school board trustee in 1950. In 1951, he was elected as alderman for Ward 5, serving in this capacity until 1960, when he was subsequently elected as a controller.
- Givens was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1962.
- Following the sudden death of Mayor David Summerville in 1963, Givens was appointed by City Council as the mayor of Toronto and was officially elected to the position in 1964, winning a close race against Allan Lamport. As mayor, Givens was automatically a member of the Metropolitan Toronto Executive and Council, the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, the Consumer’s Gas Company Executive, the Toronto Hydro Commission and the governing boards of Toronto’s major hospitals.
- Givens was publicly seen as an affable and populist mayor, but his tenure was not without controversy. His support for the construction of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts and his decision to acquire Henry Moore’s bronze sculpture The Archer for the new Nathan Phillips Square were both highly controversial during his term in office. In particular, the Moore sculpture sparked intense controversy and public debate amongst council members and citizens alike, because traditional and representational public art pieces were the norm in Toronto at the time and The Archer sculpture was considered expensive, bold, and unrelatable. The controversy surrounding the statue’s purchase was still partly to blame for Givens’ 1966 election defeat to William Dennison. Ultimately, the sculpture was purchased with privately solicited donations and has become one of Toronto’s beloved and recognized landmarks.
- Givens ran for the House of Commons of Canada in the 1957 and 1958 federal elections but was defeated in his bid to become member of Parliament for Spadina. In 1967, Givens entered national politics for the second time, winning a seat as a Liberal in Toronto’s York West riding. In 1971, he stepped down before the end of his term to campaign for a seat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Again, running under the Liberal banner, Givens won his seat in York-Forest Hill. In the 1975 provincial election, he was re-elected as a member of Provincial Parliament in the Armourdale constituency.
- In 1977, Givens retired from politics and was appointed as a provincial court judge and chair of the Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission, serving in both capacities until 1985, when he left the Commission but continued in the judiciary as a civil trial judge until officially retired from public life in 1988.
- In addition to his political career, Givens also worked briefly as a current affairs commentator for local radio broadcaster CHUM 1050 AM.
- Givens was an ardent Zionist and a prominent leader of several Jewish communal organizations. He was the founder and first president of the Upper Canada Lodge of B’nai Brith and sat on the executives of the Canadian Jewish Congress, the United Jewish Welfare Fund, the Talmud Torah Eitz Chaim, the Zionist Organization of Canada, the Toronto Zionist Council, Jewish National Fund, State of Israel Bonds, and the Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care. He was chair of the United Israel Appeal-Israel Emergency Fund in 1967 and the United Jewish Appeal-Israel Special Fund in 1968. From 1973 to 1985, he was the national president of the Canadian Zionist Federation. In the 1990s, he served as the national chairman of the Committee for Yiddish of the Canadian Jewish Congress.
- Givens was the honouree of the Jewish National Fund’s Negev Dinner in 1968. He received the Human Relations Award from the Canadian Council of Christians and Jews in 1969 and the Award of Honour from the Toronto Regional Council of B’nai Brith in 1972.
- Givens was also known to be a passionate sailor and was a member of both the Royal Canadian and the Island Yacht Clubs in Toronto.
- Custodial History
- The records were in the possession of Phil Givens until they were donated to the Archives in September 1990 by his wife.
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records documenting the personal, professional and communal activities of Phil Givens. The bulk of the material is graphic and most of the photographs relate to his tenure as Mayor of Toronto and to his Jewish communal work. The records also include general correspondence, speeches, campaign material, scrapbooks, cartoons, certificates and awards, biographical writings, audio and visual materials and artifacts. The records have been arranged into nine series representing Givens’ various roles and activities and have been described to the file level and item level when necessary. These series are: 1. Personal life; 2. City of Toronto Alderman; 3. City of Toronto Controller; 4. City of Toronto Mayor; 5. Metropolitan Toronto Police Commissioner; 6. Provincial politics; 7. National politics; 8. Legal career; 9. Jewish communal service.
- Notes
- Physical Description Note: Includes ca. 915 photographs, 14 drawings, 1 print, 1 presentation piece, 27 objects, 4 DVD’s, 4 videocassettes and 1 audiocassette.
- Physical Extent Note: Fonds was reduced from 5.5 m of records to 2.6 m of records. Please see accession record for further details regarding the records that were culled.
- General Note: Previously cited as MG6 B
- Associated material note: City of Toronto Archives: “Philip Givens fonds” (fonds 1301) and Series 363, Sub-series 2 “Mayor' Office journals” (fonds 200). Library and Archives Canada: “Correspondence and subjects” series (R4942-1-1-E) in the Stuart E. Rosenberg fonds (R4942-0-X-E); Henry S. Rosenberg fonds (R3946-0-9-E); Jewish National Fund of Canada fonds (R4347-0-1-E), “Subject series: Givens, Judge Philip G. – Toronto” (R4347-7-4-E); “Correspondence, memoranda, minutes, reports” series (MG31-H67), Zdzislaw Przygoda fonds (R6257-0-0-E) [Sir Casimir Gzowski monument committee records –chaired by Phil Givens]; B'nai Brith Canada fonds (R6348-0-9-E); Canadian Zionist Federation fonds (R9377-0-6-E).
- Name Access
- Givens, Phillip, 1922-1995
- Givens (nee Rubin), Min
- Subjects
- Law
- Politicians
- Related Material
- See Fonds 2: Benjamin Dunkelman fonds
- See Fonds 18: Gordon Mendly fonds
- See Fonds 28: Zionist Organization of Canada fonds
- See Fonds 37: Gilbert Studios fonds (Negev dinners series, Zionist Building series, Portraits series).
- Creator
- Givens, Philip, 1922-1995
- Accession Number
- 1990-9-7
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Jewish communal series
- Canadian Zionist Federation sub-series
- Canadian Zionist Federation - Tribute album file
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 9-2
- File
- 1
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1968
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph: b&w ; 21 x 25 cm
- Admin History/Bio
- William Dennison was Toronto's fifty-fifth mayor. He was in office from 1 January 1967 to 31 December 1972.
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph of Phil Givens (left) conversing with Prime Minister Trudeau (centre) and Mayor Dennison during a visit to Toronto's New City Hall during the 1968 federal election.
- Name Access
- Canada. Prime Minister (1968-1979 : Trudeau)
- Subjects
- Mayors
- Prime ministers--Canada
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Places
- Toronto (Ont.)
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- National politics series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 7
- File
- 12
- Material Format
- graphic material
- textual record
- Parallel Title
- Photograph is by Mike Peake (The Toronto Sun)
- Date
- 1985
- Physical Description
- 1 folder of textual records
- 1 photograph : col. ; 20 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one letter from Paul Godfrey (in his capacity as Publisher of The Toronto Sun) to Phil Givens and an accompanying photograph of Godfrey and Givens meeting with Brian Mulroney at a breakfast event. Identified in the photograph are (foreground, left to right): Brian Mulroney, Paul Godfrey, Phil Givens.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Jewish communal series
- Other Jewish organizations sub-series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 9-8
- File
- 17
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 1984
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one photograph of Phil Givens conversing with President Navon at an event held at the Beth Tzedec Synagogue.
- Name Access
- Beth Tzedec Congregation (Toronto, Ont.)
- Israel. President (1978-1983 : Navon)
- Subjects
- Presidents--Israel
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Legal career series
- Level
- File
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 8
- File
- 5
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- Sept. 1981
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 25 x 20 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of one photograph of Phil Givens meeting with Deputy Solicitor General John Hilton.
- Notes
- Photograph is by the Ontario Provincial Police
- Source
- Archival Descriptions
- Part Of
- Philip Givens fonds
- Metropolitan Toronto Police Commission series
- Official engagements sub-series
- Remembrance Day at Jewish War Vets Memorial file
- Level
- Item
- Fonds
- 51
- Series
- 5-3
- File
- 15
- Material Format
- graphic material
- Date
- 11 Nov. 1984
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. ; 10 x 15 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item is a photograph of Phil Givens standing in front of the Jewish war veterans monument during the Remembrance Day ceremony held by the General Wingate Branch 256 of the Royal Canadian Legion. Also identified in the photograph is J. Sacks.
- Name Access
- Royal Canadian Legion. General Wingate Branch 256
- Subjects
- Remembrance Day (Canada)
- Repro Restriction
- Copyright is not held by the Ontario Jewish Archives. It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain permission prior to use.
- Related Material
- See Fonds No.74 (OJA): Wingate Branch 256, Royal Canadian Legion.
- Source
- Archival Descriptions