Mayor George Edward Wake

Other Events:

• Honoured: Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Ted Wake Lounge, Senior Centre
• Interesting: life story, newspaper, politics, public service
• Military: WW2 - Canadian Army Engineers
• Name: Ted Wake
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-13898P
• Residence: 1928, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Military: 1940; WW2 Canadian Army Engineers
• Business: 1946, 412 Queen St. W., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; T. and T Press
• Elected Office: 1965, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mayor of Hespeler
• Elected Office: 1966, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Mayor of Hespeler

Notes:

THE TED WAKE LOUNGE

The Ted Wake Lounge Senior Centre is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and in honour of the occasion Hespeler Happenings is publishing this biography by Jim Quantrell, City archivist from his book "Cambridge Mosaic".

GEORGE E. "TED" WAKE 1910-1988

Married: Dorothy Hogg - 1940 George Edward "Ted" Wake was born in Toronto on September 11, 1910, the second son of George Edward and Mary Wake. After his father died when he was twelve, Mr. Wake worked as a delivery boy at a drug store and was later apprenticed to the printing trade at the Grimsby Independent, a weekly newspaper. For four years he worked at a variety of weekly newspapers learning the work of the pressman, compositor, writer and linotype operator.

Then, in 1928, he took a job as a spare linotype operator with the Toronto Star. Uncertain of his prospects at the "Star" and disenchanted with big city life, he answered an advertisement for help at Progress Printing in Preston and moved there in November 1928. He remained in Preston until 1940 when he enlisted with the Canadian Army Engineers. After serving in Europe for the duration of the war he returned to Canada and, with his wife, settled in Hespeler where he worked for a while at the Hespeler Herald.

Together with Hespeler Herald editor Treve James, Mr. Wake formed a partnership and started T and T Press in 1946. When Mr. James entered the Anglican ministry a short time later, Mr. Wake took full control of the company. He moved the business twice before settling at 412 Queen Street West. Mr. Wake entered politics in 1950 when he won a seat on the Waterloo Township School Board. He was returned by acclamation in the following election and was chosen Chairman of the School Board. He also served as a member of the Hespeler Hydro Electric Commission and it was while he was serving as Chairman of the Commission in 1965 that a group of citizens approached him with the proposal that he run for mayor. He announced his candidacy on November 17, 1965 and when no one came forward to challenge him, Mr. Wake became Hespeler's mayor unopposed. Following his initial victory, he was acclaimed to the mayor's office on a further three occasions thus becoming the last mayor of Hespeler before that town became a part of Cambridge in 1973.

Mr. Wake is credited with spearheading an economic resurgence of the community, transforming Hespeler from what has been described as a lethargic community to a "thriving, prosperous, industrial and commercial municipality of distinction". He has been described as "a man totally dedicated to his job and fiercely loyal to the Town of Hespeler" who "directed a course of events that made abrupt and sweeping changes in Hespeler". By the mid - 1960's it was impossible to even consider growth without an expansion of Hespeler's sewage treatment facilities. One of Mayor Wake's first acts upon taking office in January 1966 was to petition provincial authorities to install a new sewage disposal plant. An agreement wasn't signed until 1970 but the plant provided the basis for new development. One of the largest issues to face Mayor Wake and his council was the implementation of regional government. He realized that changes were required in the old county system and that restructuring in some form was essential. He objected strongly to the form that restructuring took, particularly the amalgamation of Hespeler with Galt and Preston. The reason was Hespeler's sound financial footing. Five years of "pay-as-you-go" planning had provided Hespeler with a reasonable tax rate and only a minor debt load which was the result, in most cases, of paying cash for work done rather than issuing debentures. Mayor Wake was convinced that amalgamation would only add to the debt load of Hespeler's taxpayers. When it became evident that the amalgamation of Galt, Preston and Hespeler was inevitable he bowed gracefully and urged his supporters to "throw away the crying towels and let's get behind the new community".

When Hespeler became part of Cambridge in January 1973, Mr. Wake left politics to return to private life. He died in his 78th year on January 31, 1988 and is buried in New Hope Cemetery.

Editor's note: In speaking with Mr. Fred Stewart, Hespeler's last Police Chief, I mentioned this article. Fred quickly responded that in his opinion, Ted Wake was the best Hespeler Mayor he had served under. Fred stated that Mayor Wake wanted to see the Town Departments perform at their top level and did his best to "provide the equipment necessary to get the job done."


Hespeler Happenings Fall 2008

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GEORGE E. "TED" WAKE
1910-1988
Married: Dorothy Hogg - 1940

George Edward "Ted" Wake was born in Toronto on September 11, 1910, the second son of George Edward and Mary Wake. After his father died when he was twelve, Mr. Wake worked as a delivery boy at a drug store and was later apprenticed to the printing trade at the Grimsby Independent, a weekly newspaper. For four years he worked at a variety of weekly newspapers learning the work of the pressman, compositor, writer and linotype operator. Then, in 1928, he took a job as a spare linotype operator with the Toronto Star. Uncertain of his prospects at the "Star" and disenchanted with big city life, he answered an advertisement for help at Progress Printing in Preston and moved there in November 1928. He remained in Preston until 1940 when he enlisted with the Canadian Army Engineers. After serving in Europe for the duration of the war he returned to Canada and, with his wife, settled in Hespeler where he worked for a while at the Hespeler Herald. Together with Hespeler Herald editor Treve James, Mr. Wake formed a partnership and started T and T Press in 1946. When Mr. James entered the Anglican ministry a short time later, Mr. Wake took full control of the company. He moved the business twice before settling at 412 Queen Street West. Mr. Wake entered politics in 1950 when he won a seat on the Waterloo Township School Board. He was returned by acclamation in the following election and was chosen Chairman of the School Board. He also served as a member of the Hespeler Hydro Electric Commission and it was while he was serving as Chairman of the Commission in 1965 that a group of citizens approached him with the proposal that he run for mayor. He announced his candidacy on November 17, 1965 and when no one came forward to challenge him, Mr. Wake became Hespeler's mayor unopposed. Following his initial victory, he was acclaimed to the mayor's office on a further three occasions thus becoming the last mayor of Hespeler before that town became a part of Cambridge in 1973. Mr. Wake is credited with spearheading an economic resurgence of the community, transforming Hespeler from what has been described as a lethargic community to a "thriving, prosperous, industrial and commercial municipality of distinction". He has been described as "a man totally dedicated to his job and fiercely loyal to the Town of Hespeler" who "directed a course of events that made abrupt and sweeping changes in Hespeler". By the mid - 1960's it was impossible to even consider growth without an expansion of Hespeler's sewage treatment facilities. One of Mayor Wake's first acts upon taking office in January 1966 was to petition provincial authorities to install a new sewage disposal plant. An agreement wasn't signed until 1970 but the plant provided the basis for new development. One of the largest issues to face Mayor Wake and his council was the implementation of regional government. He realized that changes were required in the old county system and that restructuring in some form was essential. He objected strongly to the form that restructuring took, particularly the amalgamation of Hespeler with Galt and Preston. The reason was Hespeler's sound financial footing. Five years of "pay-as-you-go" planning had provided Hespeler with a reasonable tax rate and only a minor debt load which was the result, in most cases, of paying cash for work done rather than issuing debentures. Mayor Wake was convinced that amalgamation would only add to the debt load of Hespeler's

taxpayers. When it became evident that the amalgamation of Galt, Preston and Hespeler was inevitable he bowed gracefully and urged his supporters to "throw away the crying towels and let's get behind the new community". When Hespeler became part of Cambridge in January 1973, Mr. Wake left politics to return to private life. He died in his 78th year on January 31, 1988 and is buried in New Hope Cemetery.

Source:
1. Chris Aagaard, "Hespeler's mayor was 'fiercely loyal' ", Cambridge Reporter Monday February 1, 1988.
2. Obituary Cambridge Reporter Monday February 1, 1988.


Cambridge Mosaic, Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [used with kind permission of Jim Quantrell]

George — Dorothy Hogg. Dorothy was born Abt 1910; died Yes, date unknown; was buried , New Hope Cemetery, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]