Rob Ford

Robert Bruce Ford (May 28, 1969 – March 22, 2016) was a prominent Canadian politician and businessman, most notably serving as the 64th mayor of Toronto from 2010 to 2014. Before ascending to the mayoralty, Ford was a city councillor for Ward 2 Etobicoke North, having first won his seat in the 2000 municipal election and subsequently securing re-election twice.

Ford's political journey was marked by both fervent support and significant controversies. His tenure as mayor was particularly tumultuous, characterized by a high-profile substance abuse scandal that erupted in 2013 and garnered extensive media attention both nationally and internationally. Although he admitted to his struggles, Ford resisted calls to resign, leading the city council to strip him of certain mayoral powers and delegate them to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly for the remainder of his term.

In the face of these challenges, Ford took a leave of absence to seek treatment for his addiction. He initially planned to run for re-election in the October 2014 mayoral race but withdrew after being hospitalized and diagnosed with an abdominal tumor that same September. Instead, he opted to regain his city council seat, which he successfully did while John Tory took over as mayor on December 1, 2014. Ford continued to battle cancer until his passing in March 2016, after unsuccessful chemotherapy treatments. Throughout his career, he left a lasting impact on Toronto's political landscape.