Victor Copps

Who was Victor Copps?

Victor Kennedy Copps was a Canadian politician and Mayor of Hamilton.

Born in Haileybury, Ontario, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, following which, he worked in Timmins, Ontario for a local newspaper. In 1945 he moved to Hamilton to become a sports broadcaster on CHML. He entered local politics in 1960, winning a seat on the Board of Control and becoming deputy Mayor. He ran for Mayor in 1962 defeating the incumbent. He sparked outrage among Hamilton's Protestant community, as one of his first official acts was to abolish the annual Orange Order Parade, a staple of Hamilton for many years. In 1964 he was an unsuccessful candidate at the Ontario Liberal Party's leadership convention. Copps continued as mayor until 1976 when he was forced to retire following a heart attack while running in the Around the Bay Road Race. He was the city's first Roman Catholic mayor and its second-longest serving holder of that office. Under his leadership, the city engaged in a major project of urban renewal. The city's Copps Coliseum is named after him.

Vic Copps is the father of Sheila Copps, a former Canadian cabinet minister.