Bert Sterling Wemp (July 3, 1889 – February 5, 1976) was a Canadian journalist and mayor of Toronto. He was also a member of the Orange Order in Canada.

Bert Wemp
42nd Mayor of Toronto
In office
1930–1930
Preceded bySamuel McBride
Succeeded byWilliam James Stewart
Personal details
Born
Bert Sterling Wemp

(1889-07-03)July 3, 1889[1]
Tweed, Ontario, Canada
DiedFebruary 6, 1976(1976-02-06) (aged 86)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
AwardsDistinguished Flying Cross
Order of Leopold

Born in Tweed, Ontario, he was raised in Cabbagetown and attended Dufferin School and Jarvis Collegiate Institute. In 1905, he joined the Toronto Telegram working as a suburban editor, editor, city editor, and head of the court bureau. During World War I, he served as commander of the 218th Squadron, Royal Naval Air Service and was the first Canadian to win the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was made a Knight of the Order of Leopold in 1919.[2] During World War II he was a war correspondent. In 1946, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.[3]

In 1921, he was elected a school trustee and again in 1922. In 1924, he was elected to the Toronto City Council as an alderman for Ward 2. In 1930, he was elected mayor of Toronto. After serving as mayor, he returned to the Toronto Telegram as city editor. He died of emphysema in 1976.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Bert Sterling Wemp". FamilySearch.org. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  2. ^ "No. 31170". The London Gazette. February 7, 1919. p. 2051.
  3. ^ "No. 37633". The London Gazette. June 28, 1946. p. 3342.
  4. ^ "Former mayor won first Canadian DFC", The Globe and Mail [Toronto, Ont] February 6, 1976: 4.