From the Archives

Scott Somerville  

The City of Vaughan’s archives house more than 600 collections dating from the early 1700s to the present day. Within these files are the stories of how Vaughan evolved from the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island to the bustling city it has become. 

Let’s look back at our history and share the stories of the people, places and moments that helped shape the city we know today. This month’s feature is on Scott Somerville.   

Scott Somerville was born in Sudbury in 1940 and moved to Kleinburg in 1978 after marrying Patricia Travers, author of A History of Vaughan Township Churches. They were married for more than 56 years before Scott passed away in November 2023 following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Scott worked as a Chartered Professional Accountant and had a successful career in municipal management before he retired. He joined the City of Vaughan (formerly the Town of Vaughan) as its third Chief Administrative Officer in 1978. At the time, the population of Vaughan was only 17,500 people compared to more than 344,000 today. 

Dedicated and passionate about city building, Scott created a robust organization to serve the residents and businesses of Vaughan, leaving behind – after 25 years – a legacy of innovation and leadership. He also worked at the Township of Aurora, Township of King and Township of Peele. 

Scott continued to be very active in the Vaughan community even after his retirement, acting as group archivist for the Kleinburg Old Boys, a group of Kleinburg residents who showcase displays and work to conserve artifacts and photographs of the community at the Kline House, located at 8 Nashville Rd. 

Items held within the City of Vaughan’s Archives relate to Scott Somerville’s influence on the history and evolution of Vaughan. Featured items include a written description of the Town/City of Vaughan's Chain of Office that was conceived and presented to the first 'Mayor' of Vaughan, various patches showing the City's coat of arms and how it has evolved, a memorial coin developed to celebrate the town becoming a city in 1991, City Twinning items, and the game ‘Vaughanopoly’.

The Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service Station 7-9, located at 9601 Islington Ave., was dedicated in Scott’s honour in 2007.

VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!

Looking for more information about the history of Vaughan? The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are available in the City's online gallery on Flickr: 

• From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
• Historical Families of Vaughan
• Historical Photography
• Past Mayors of Vaughan
• Prohibition in Vaughan
• Recollections of Rural Vaughan
• The Great Depression in Vaughan
• The Mary Wood Collection
• The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
• Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes 
• Vaughan Lodge Fonds
• Vaughan Working Environments
• Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine, Music and Sports and Recreation
• And more! 

A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database or contact the City by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca. 

By managing and preserving both City and community records, the City’s Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.

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