Muni Evers | |
|---|---|
| 32nd Mayor of New Westminster | |
| In office 1968–1982 | |
| Preceded by | Stuart Gifford |
| Succeeded by | Tom Baker |
| New Westminster City Councillor | |
| In office 1963–1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Muni Samuel Averbach December 13, 1914 Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| Died | April 18, 2002 (aged 87) New Westminster, British Columbia |
Muni Samuel Evers CM (née, Averbach; December 13, 1914 – April 18, 2002) was a Canadian municipal politician who served the city of New Westminster, British Columbia. He was elected as the 32nd mayor of New Westminster and served from 1968 to 1982, making him the longest serving mayor of the city's history.
Muni Averbach was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Russian-Jewish immigrants. He initially wanted to study medicine, but was unable to earn places in medical school due to rules limiting the amount of Jewish people in certain academic programs. As a result, Averbach took up pharmacy instead. After working as a pharmacist for the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II, Averbach relocated him and his family to New Westminster, British Columbia. After facing more difficulties in taking the B.C. pharmacy exam further due to Jewish quotas, Averbach was convinced by his friends and family to change his surname to Evers. After passing the exam, Evers opened a pharmacy in New Westminster and became a prominent member of the city's business community.
Evers was persuaded by then mayor Beth Wood to become the city's police commissioner, and ran for city council in 1963. After serving three terms as a councillor, Evers successfully ran for mayor in 1968. Evers won the next seven consecutive mayoral elections, serving for fourteen years until 1982. As mayor, Evers succeeded in bringing the Canada Summer Games to New Westminster in 1973. Evers also oversaw the transfer of the British Columbia Penitentiary lands to the city of New Westminster in the 1980s. During this time, Evers was allegedly approached by Pierre Trudeau to run as a member of Parliament for the Liberal Party of Canada, but declined the offer.
In 1984, Evers was awarded membership into the Order of Canada by then Governor General Jeanne Sauvé.
References
edit- Mackie, John (April 30, 2002). "Muni Evers Averbach obituary". Newspapers.com. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- "MAYORS OF NEW WESTMINSTER" (PDF). City of New Westminster. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- "Mr. Muni S. Evers". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
- Ronnie Tessler (1989). "Muni*" (PDF). The Scribe. Jewish Historical Society of B.C.: 11–14. Retrieved 12 June 2024.