Thomas Laird Kennedy at centre, Cooksville Fairgrounds, 1916.

Many individuals have left their marks in the annals of Mississauga’s ever-evolving story, but few families have served their community with such passion and dedication, and without fanfare, as have the extended Kennedy family. With a grass-roots approach and a strong moral standard, the Kennedy family, even in their quiet way, have helped to shape the City that we call home today through successive generations.

The Kennedy family provided their community, their Township, their City, and their Province with an outstanding record of service, particularly in the arenas of politics and community development. From brothers Colonel Thomas Laird Kennedy (1878-1959) and John Kennedy (1883-1931), to John’s sons Robert Douglas (1916-2003) and Harold (1927-2009), to Ted Chudleigh, grandson of T.L. Kennedy, successive generations of the Kennedy family have remarkably served in public life since 1907 at a variety of levels of government. Most often, it seems, they did so without fanfare or expectations of gratitude, but rather they were driven by something less tangible: a desire to sincerely make their communities better places to live, work and play.

If you wish to read more about the Kennedy family story, we highly recommend “When Lightning Strikes” by Joyce Beaton, which looks at the remarkable story of Evelyn Kennedy.

Jane and John Kennedy, natives of Portadown, County Armagh, Ireland, came to Canada around 1820, along with their son William. William Kennedy (1813-1869), came to Toronto Township (historic Mississauga) around 1830 and settled near the Dixie area (also known historically as Sydenham and Fountain Hill). He was a merchant and blacksmith. In 1841 William married Jane Laird (1811-1873), and the couple had four children: Sarah Jane (1842-1912), John Robertson (1844-1891), and twins Margaret Ann (1846-1849) and Maria Elizabeth (1846-1886). Sisters Sarah Jane and Maria Elizabeth married brothers, James Neil Henry and Jesse Archibald Henry, respectively.

But back to William. On October 5, 1850, William purchased a small parcel of land on Lot 9, Concession 1, NDS (in modern terms at the northwest corner of Dundas Street and Tomken Road). At this intersection, William built a new brick house for his family, as well as a hotel and store which was called the “Atlantic Hotel”. In 1864 William became the community’s first Postmaster, when the post office opened in the Atlantic Hotel under the name of “Fountain Hill”. A mere four months later, on what would later become Canada Day, the post office name changed from “Fountain Hill” to “Dixie” on July 1, 1864. Dixie was chosen in honour of a local respected doctor and surgeon, Doctor Beaumont Wilson Bowen Dixie. Later, Third Line East was also renamed Dixie Road after the community and doctor.

On July 25, 1862, William purchased 100 acres in Lot 8, Concession 1, NDS (northeast corner of Dundas Street and Tomken Road). This property would become the primary family farm for several generations. William also served as a School Trustee for Dixie Public School, as a Trustee for the Dixie Union Chapel, and as a Justice-of-the-Peace. William died on August 20, 1869, and his property and responsibilities officially passed to his son, John Robertson Kennedy, on September 13, 1869.

In 1870, John married Mary Elgie, and the couple had six children: Amelia (1872-1873), William (1873-1875), Jane (1876-1965), Thomas Laird (1878-1959), Harriet (1880-1959) and John Jr. (1883-1931). John Sr. built a substantial family home on the family farm property in 1881, which became known as “Braeside”. John also continued in his father’s footsteps, serving as a local trustee.

John Kennedy Sr. died at the young age of 47 in 1891. The family farm was left to John’s wife, Mary, and their eldest surviving son, Thomas Laird Kennedy, who took over operation of the family farm. Although the old hotel and store were eventually purchased by Thomas Gill in 1906, Braeside and the 100-acre farm remained in the Kennedy family. The old Atlantic Hotel was torn down in 1968, and as of 2025 the site is now home to a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

Thomas Laird Kennedy was educated at the Dixie Public School, Parkdale Collegiate Institute, and the University of Toronto. In 1903 Thomas married Armenia (Minnie) Patterson, and couple had four daughters: Marjorie (1904-1995), Marion (1908-1959), Ruth (1910-1984) and Isobel Jane (1914-1989).

Thomas’ political career began in 1907 when he was elected as a Councillor for Toronto Township. In 1909 he became Deputy Reeve and served as Reeve from 1910 to 1911. Thomas served with distinction as a Major in the Peel Squadron of the Governor-General’s Bodyguard and with the Canadian Cycling Battalion during the First World War, and later attained the rank of Colonel in the militia. After the First World War, Thomas entered Provincial Politics and was elected to the Ontario Legislature for the Conservative Party in 1919. He retained this seat, except for one term, until his retirement in 1958.

Braeside - Home of Thomas Laird Kennedy, Tomken Road.

Most of his life he continued operating the family farm and was mainly involved with fruit growing. His political interests were focused on agricultural concerns and rural affairs, and he was highly respected by his fellow farmers. He was known as an amiable, humble, homespun man, and his service and respected personality earned him the affectionate title of “Old Man Ontario.” Deeply concerned about the future of Ontario farmers, he sponsored the Ontario Marketing Act of 1931, the Milk Control Act of 1934, the Ontario Stock Yards and the Ontario Food Terminal, and was instrumental in creating a special soils department at the Ontario Agricultural College.

Although he often said he wanted to be out of politics, he is noted to have held a genuine desire to serve and did so in various capacities. Thomas was the Peel Representative and Conservative Member of the Ontario Legislature from 1919-1934, and for the Progressive Conservative Party from 1937-1958, serving as Minister of Agriculture from 1930-1934 and from 1943-1953. In 1948, in recognition of his long public service, he became interim Premier of Ontario when the incumbent, George A. Drew (1894-1973) was defeated in the 1948 election. Kennedy remained in office as the 15th Premier of Ontario until May 4, 1949 when Leslie Frost became leader of the party. Thomas retired in 1958 and passed away on February 13, 1959.

Second Line East was renamed Tomken Road in honour of Thomas Laird Kennedy: TOM KENnedy. T.L. Kennedy Secondary School, which opened in 1953, was also named in his honour. Additionally, the Cooksville Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #582, formed in 1960 and was named Colonel Tom Kennedy Legion, as was a Provincial Government Office Building in Toronto. An Ontario Heritage plaque honouring Colonel Kennedy was installed in the new Dixie Public School in 1974, and Kennedy Road and Kennedy Park in Mississauga were also named after him and the Kennedy family.

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The History of Mississauga’s Kennedy Family – Part 1

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