Olivia Chow sworn in as mayor, saying Toronto can find its ‘swagger’ by working together

At a ceremony Wednesday at City Hall, Olivia Chow urged residents to join her in overcoming Toronto’s challenges.

Thestar.com
July 13, 2023
David Rider

Moments after becoming mayor, Olivia Chow urged residents to stay hopeful for their ailing city while joining her in solving its problems and building a more inclusive and caring Toronto.

Chow, elected in late June to replace John Tory, made the remarks to a city hall chamber Wednesday after making the declaration of office to raucous cheers and a standing ovation from supporters, city councillors and past mayors.

“Together, our city can find its feet again,” said the former NDP MP and city councillor, who had arrived at work that morning by bike, accompanied by dozens of cheering cyclists as part of a ride organized by Cycle Toronto.

“Find our swagger. Give ourselves permission to believe that together we can move the needle of progress for the people of Toronto.”

She implored everyone, from business and labour figures to non-profit operators to regular citizens to “join us. Let’s build a Toronto that is more affordable, safe and caring, where everyone belongs. Together we can and today we start.”

Chow, 66, made history as Toronto’s first racialized mayor, marvelling at her journey -- child immigrant from Hong Kong to St. Jamestown apartment with her family to mayor of the city that welcomed her and many others.

Her first day as mayor kicked off with literal bells and whistles as a peloton of fans made its way from Bay and Charles Streets to Chow’s new office. The 20-minute ride marked a turning point for Toronto’s cycling community, a vocal group that has for years felt that the city’s leadership does not understand what it means to navigate this city on two wheels. Chow is a year-round cyclist who does not own a car.

“I feel so blessed to be able to come to work on my first day of being the mayor of this great city of ours with hundreds of cyclists,” said Chow.

“I was also picturing, if all of us were in a car, there’d be serious traffic problems,” she said, a clear nod to her rivals, a couple of whom blamed traffic congestion on bike lanes, against available evidence.

Chow’s swearing-in ceremony was steeped in Indigenous traditions and the immigrant experience, from drumming, smudge and a teapot symbolizing reconciliation to an African-Canadian land acknowledgment that called for Toronto’s decolonization.

Duke Redbird, an elder from Saugeen Ojibway Nation, recalled Chow and her late husband Jack Layton visiting him near Algonquin Park. He compared their skilled canoe paddling to Chow’s task moving a massive city forward together.

Chow acknowledged the serious challenges facing the city she now leads, from a housing crisis that has refugee claimants sleeping on the street to public fears over attacks on the street and TTC to city services weakened by civic belt-tightening.

The mayor noted types of existing solutions she wants strengthened, such as a non-profit for refugees founded by former homeless refugee Christopher Nkambwe, community-focused development in Scarborough’s Golden Mile and the Toronto Community Crisis Service for people in mental health crisis.

“We can improve 911 wait times, and build more afterschool programs,” said the progressive, elected after 13 years of centre and right-leaning rule.

While urging Torontonians to join her in finding new solutions, Chow called out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford, saying they must step up to help Canada’s biggest city emerge from a pandemic-inflamed budget crisis and help forge a “new deal” that finally makes it financially sustainable.

“Toronto needs strong federal and provincial partners who recognize our city’s crucial role in the economic and social life of our province and our country,”she said, later telling reporters that she has spoken to both Trudeau and Ford and expects “imminent” meetings with them.

Meanwhile, in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Ford took issue with Chow saying the city would sue the province if it expropriates land for its Ontario Place plans, calling her comments “disappointing.”

Chow leavened the talk of Toronto’s problems with optimism that they can be solved because “people want change,” declaring her eagerness to help them make it.

After the ceremony, which also saw singer Lorraine Segato get the chamber dancing and singing to the Parachute Club anthem “Rise Up,” Chow was asked what advice Layton, the federal NDP leader felled by cancer in 2011, would give her.

“I know (he) liked to quote Tommy Douglas, the father of medicare, who always said ‘Courage, my friends, it’s never too late to dream of a better tomorrow,’” Chow said, adding: “Let’s do this together.”

Wearing a skirt by Canadian designer Anu Raina that featured a scene of Dundas Street West, Chow was asked if the city will proceed with a controversial council-approved plan to rename Dundas due to its British namesake’s role in upholding the slave trade.

“I believe there is a complicated and involved process to make that change and I will follow through with it,” she told reporters.

Chow next week oversees her first city council meeting as mayor. In August, when council is usually in recess, she has called for an emergency meeting to deal with the $1.5-billion budget shortfall for last year and this year.