Municipal elections were held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on January 5, 1903. In the mayoral election, Alderman Thomas Urquhart defeated incumbent Mayor Oliver Aiken Howland, who was attempting to win a third term in office. Urquhart's platform included operating the telephone and gas systems under city management. Urquhart had the support of the Toronto Trades and Labour Council. Alderman Lamb came in third.
Toronto mayor
Results
Alderman Thomas Urquhart - 8,634
Oliver Aiken Howland (incumbent) - 7,887
Alderman Daniel Lamb - 6,473
Christopher C. Robinson - 914
Charles Christopher Woodley - 428
Source: and
Board of Control
1903 was the last year in which the Toronto Board of Control, the executive body of Toronto City Council was not directly elected. At the first council meeting following the general election, council chose Aldermen Loudon, Oliver, Burns and Richardson to sit on the body, which was chaired by the Mayor.
Plebiscites
A plebiscite was held on a by-law to authorize expenditure on a modern pumping engine for the city's waterworks Waterworks by-law For - 5,615 Against - 2,730 Source:
City council
Four aldermen were elected to Toronto City Council per ward. Former mayor John Shaw attempted to win an aldermanic seat in the Third Ward, but was defeated.
First Ward (Riverdale) William Temple Stewart (incumbent) - 1,518 Daniel Chisholm - 1,515 Robert Fleming (incumbent) - 1,407 Fred H. Richardson (incumbent) - 1,255 John Preston - 1,100
Second Ward (Cabbagetown and Rosedale) Frank S. Spence (incumbent) - 1,932 Joseph Oliver (incumbent) - 1,883Dr. John Noble - 1,781Thomas Foster (incumbent) - 1,583 Edward Strachan Cox - 1,426 David Carlyle - 1,136 Thomas Davies - 624 W.A. Douglass - 594 Frederick Hogg - 585
Third Ward (Central Business District and The Ward)John F. Loudon (incumbent) - 2,814Oliver Barton Sheppard (incumbent) - 2,788Joseph George Ramsden- 2,356Samuel George Curry (incumbent) - 2,154 George McMurrich (incumbent) - 2,035 John Shaw - 1,968 John Patterson - 196
Fourth Ward (Spadina)William Burns (incumbent) -2,770William Peyton Hubbard (incumbent) - 2,585Dr. William S. Harrison - 2,582Stephen Wellesley Burns - 2,469 Alex R. Williamson - 1,731 Lieut-Col. Norman F. Paterson - 1,535 Edmund Schilling - 258
Fifth Ward (Trinity-Bellwoods)James Russell Lovett Starr - 2,508John Dunn (incumbent) - 2,435William Bell (incumbent) - 1,958Frank Woods (incumbent) - 1,864 Peter Whytock - 1,594 Alexander Stewart (incumbent) - 1,353 M.J. Mallaney - 391
Sixth Ward (Brockton and Parkdale)James Henry McGhie - 1,999Jonn Joseph Ward (incumbent) - 1,736John James Graham (incumbent) - 1,696Dr. Adam Lynd''' (incumbent) - 1,359 J.H. Hall (incumbent) - 1,238