Wayne Thomson

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=December 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}

{{For|those of a similar name|Wayne Thompson (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Wayne Thomson

| image =

| caption =

| office1 = 20th Mayor of Niagara Falls

| term_start1 = 1978

| term_end1 = 1983

| predecessor1 = George Bukator

| successor1 = Bill Smeaton

| term_start2 = 1991

| term_end2 = November 30, 2003

| predecessor2 = Bill Smeaton

| successor2 = Ted Salci

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Independent

| occupation = Politician

| residence = Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

}}

Wayne Thomson is a Canadian politician who served as the mayor of Niagara Falls from 1978 to 1983 and from 1991 to 2003."[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mQVlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l34NAAAAIBAJ&pg=5771,4617203&dq=wayne-thomson+mayor+niagara&hl=en Prostitution Law Praised]", The Calgary Herald, June 9, 1982, p. A12, retrieved 2011-07-27{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Jay |date=October 15, 2024 |title=Niagara Falls gives Thomson keys to the city |url=https://niagaraindependent.ca/niagara-falls-gives-thomson-keys-to-the-city/ |url-status=live |work=The Niagara Independent |location=Niagara Falls, Ontario |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203033025/https://niagaraindependent.ca/niagara-falls-gives-thomson-keys-to-the-city/ |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |access-date=December 2, 2024}}

In 1983, Thomson resigned as mayor amid controversy over a vacation given as a gift by a Toronto development firm, and a land purchase made by his then-fiancé Bonnie Dickson. His fiancé bought some land in Niagara Falls from a seller who did not want it to be sold to Marineland. Seven months later, she sold the plot to Marineland. Marineland owner John Holer stated she acted as trustee and was accompanied by Thomson when the arrangements were made.{{cite news |work=Toronto Star |title=Mayor's resignation puts a stop to probes of land deal, free trip |date=December 21, 1983 |page=C10}}

On September 1, 1998, Thomson was attacked in his office by Joe Pietrangelo, a former city worker who was meeting with Thomson to discuss the city's decision to rezone his family property.{{cite news |author= |date=November 18, 2013 |title=Attacker of former Falls mayor dies |url=https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/attacker-of-former-falls-mayor-dies/article_a38c6b78-f393-5528-add7-a5bce22eac50.html |url-status=live |work=NiagaraThisWeek.com |agency=Fort Erie Times |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204193402/https://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/attacker-of-former-falls-mayor-dies/article_a38c6b78-f393-5528-add7-a5bce22eac50.html |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |access-date=December 4, 2024}} Pietrangelo drew a metal cane and struck Thomson repeatedly before his assistant was able to intervene.{{cite news |last=Gillis |first=Charlie |date=September 9, 1999 |title=Niagara Falls mayor didn't fear beating, he feared for his life: Accused irate over zoning |url= |work=National Post |location=Don Mills, Ontario |page=A9 |access-date=}} {{ProQuest|329605307}} Thomson was left hospitalized and required surgery.{{cite news |author= |date=March 4, 2000 |title=Man gets 25 years for beating mayor with pipe |url= |work=The Sudbury Star |location=Sudbury, Ontario |access-date=}} {{ProQuest|348724285}} Pietrangelo was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison.{{cite news |last=Makin |first=Kirk |date=March 4, 2000 |title=Beating of Niagara Falls mayor earns man 25 years in jail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/beating-of-niagara-falls-mayor-earns-man-25-years-in-jail/article4161291/ |url-status=live |work=The Globe and Mail |location=Welland, Ontario |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204191151/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/beating-of-niagara-falls-mayor-earns-man-25-years-in-jail/article4161291/ |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |access-date=December 4, 2024}}{{subscription required}} However, in 2008, he was found not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.

Thomson was defeated by Ted Salci in the 2003 municipal election.{{cite news |last=McCarten |first=James |date=November 11, 2003 |title=Across Ontario, tides of change |url= |work=The Kingston Whig-Standard |location=Kingston, Ontario |page=8 |access-date=}} {{ProQuest|352807690}} He subsequently ran and won re-election to Niagara Falls City Council as a councillor in the 2010 municipal election. He stepped down in September 2024.{{cite news |last=Spiteri |first=Ray |date=September 10, 2024 |title=Wayne Thomson 'bled Niagara Falls': Longtime politician steps down from city council |url=https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news/council/wayne-thomson-bled-niagara-falls-longtime-politician-steps-down-from-city-council/article_c6c79601-d286-5e6d-be08-cb54441676fc.html |url-status=live |work=Niagara Falls Review |location=Niagara Falls, Ontario |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923095907/https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/news/council/wayne-thomson-bled-niagara-falls-longtime-politician-steps-down-from-city-council/article_c6c79601-d286-5e6d-be08-cb54441676fc.html |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |access-date=December 4, 2024}}{{subscription required}}

In October 2024, the city of Niagara Falls awarded Thompson the Key to the City.