Ken Whillans

Personal life and family

Whillans was born in Ottawa. He had a twin brother, Don. Son Doug Whillans has run for public office on multiple ballots, was successful in 2014 and now serves at City Councillor for Wards 2 and 6.

As Alderman

Whillans led efforts to revamp Citizens Advisory Committees while in office as an alderman.

Mayor of Brampton

Whillans was elected mayor in 1982 following the death of James Archdekin, who died while in office of a heart attack. Whillans ran against Terry Miller in the two-man race. Leo Archdekin was favoured as a candidate by the local media but chose not to run.

The same election saw five aldermen win their seats by acclaimation.)

Possible replacement for Davis as MPP

With Premier of Ontario William G. Davis announcing that he would not seek re-election in the 1985 Ontario general election, Whillans considered seeking the Progressive Conservative nomination in the Brampton riding against Bob Callahan, an alderman on Brampton city council since 1969, who had won the Liberal party nomination. Future Brampton mayor Peter Robertson would lose the nomination to Jeff Rice, despite being favoured in polls.

Rice ultimately lost to Callahan (45.6%) in the 1985 Ontario general election.

Death

Whillans drowned while vacationing with his family in Prince Edward Island, on 24 August 1990. He was replaced as mayor by alderman Paul Biesel. Biesel stood for re-election, but later dropped out of the running.

Legacy

Whillans has several landmarks named in his honour in Brampton: