Oliver E. Crockford

Oliver E. Crockford (1893 – 28 March 1986) was the reeve of Scarborough, Ontario, Canada, from 1948 until 1956, and gained the nickname "Mr. Scarborough" during his tenure. resulting in both industrial and residential development of the strip and the surrounding area, and the population of Scarborough doubling in six years.

Early life Crockford was born in Parry Sound, Ontario, and worked as a railway agent for the Canadian National Railway before going to McMaster University to study English and theology, becoming a Baptist minister in 1921. He moved to the Highland Creek area of Scarborough in 1934 and was first elected to town council in 1945, becoming deputy reeve the next year and reeve in 1948. He also sat on Metro Council from 1953 to 1954 and was a member of its executive committee. Under Crockford's leadership, Scarborough went from the edge of bankruptcy with municipal assessment revenues earning only $11 million in 1946 to more than $220 million in 1954. Crockford allowed for Scarborough to have the highest density of single-family units per acre in the Toronto area, attracting working-class people looking to own a home. He twice ran for the Ontario Liberal Party for election to the Ontario legislature from York—Scarborough (provincial electoral district), in 1955 and 1959, but was defeated both times.