Trans rights champion among those to receive ‘Keys to the City’ of Toronto

Mayor John Tory named seven ‘leaders, community builders, trailblazers and role models’ to join a list of 59 distinguished Torontonians given keys since the city was amalgamated in 1998.

Thestar.com
May 1, 2018
David Rider

While living on Toronto streets for years, Susan Gapka had no key to a home.

After recovery, tenancy and decades of advocacy for transgender and housing rights, Gapka will soon be honoured with a ceremonial Key to the City by Mayor John Tory.

“It’s quite something,” said Gapka, the first transgender person to receive the honour, in an interview Tuesday. “I’m touched, I’m humbled and I’m honoured. I’m in some pretty good company.

“With this key I can open doors for others at the city of Toronto.”

Tory this week announced seven “leaders, community builders, trailblazers and role models” to join a list of 59 distinguished Torontonians given keys since the city was amalgamated in 1998.

Gapka, whose work includes helping get gender identity protections added to the Canadian Human Rights Act, was recognized by Tory for “her long and proud record of addressing issues related to affordable housing, education, mental health and community safety in the LGBTQ2S community.”

As an outsider, she said she learned with others, “how to persuade people that looking out for our most vulnerable is a really good idea for society -- that’s the key to opening the hearts and minds of others for a better society.”

Details of her key presentation ceremony are to be worked out, along with those for other recipients:

• Zanana Akande: The teacher, former MPP and first Black cabinet minister in Canada is being honoured for “dedicating her life’s work to addressing equity issues in the community and improving the social, economic, cultural and political status of women in Toronto.”

• Wilmot and Judy Matthews: The philanthropists who have supported city-building initiatives, educational programs and more are being honoured for “work including their $25 million donation to the Bentway, a unique and innovative public space that transforms 1.75 km underneath Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway into a new gathering place for our city’s growing population.”

• Peter Oundjian, conductor emeritus of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra who became the first Canadian TSO music director, is being honoured for “invigorating the TSO with recordings, tours and innovative programming during his tenure.”

• Fran Sonshine, national chair of the Canadian Society for Yad Vashem which promotes awareness of the Holocaust and its universal lessons through educational and commemorative programming, is being honoured for “being a philanthropic and volunteer leader in Toronto.”

• Pat Moore: The longtime Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park housing advocate, whose work has contributed to the creation of tenants’ associations and community programs for young people, is being honoured for “working tirelessly to ensure that those without a voice in our city, have one.”

 

Since taking office in 2014, Tory has given Keys to the City to His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, Paul Beeston, members of the band Rush, and Drake.