William S. Beaton

Who was William S. Beaton?

William S. Beaton was a Canadian politician, who was the 22nd mayor of the City of Sudbury, Ontario. He was elected to office in 1941 and was elected to office a record 11 times. An avid amateur athlete, Beaton was heavily involved in the city’s amateur sporting events and as such the annual Beaton Classic was named in his honor.

Beaton is credited the elimination of the city’s streetcar system, and the construction of the Sudbury Arena.

Beaton also ran as an Ontario Liberal Party candidate in Sudbury in the 1948 provincial election, but lost that election to Welland Gemmell.

After a decade as mayor, Beaton was defeated in 1952 by Dan Jessup, a local businessmen.