The Inauguration of Olivia Chow as Mayor of Toronto at City Hall

By Diimitrije Martinovic
Dimitrije is a Community Journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

On July 12, 2023 Olivia Chow was formally declared Mayor of Toronto. At a ceremony at City Hall, the new Mayor was presented to an audience of city officials and admirers by an array of poets, playwrights, academics, and musicians, these included: Elder, Dr. Duke Red Bird, Saugeen Ojibway Nation; Sandra Whiting, storyteller, community programmer, and president-Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education Canada; Elder Garry Sualt and grandmother Tina Sault, from the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation, Lillian Allen, poet laureate, and Lorraine Segato and the Retro City singers.

A seasoned politician, Olivia Chow comes to the office of Toronto Mayor with extensive political credentials; a school board trustee 1985, Toronto City Councillor 1991, and as Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina National Democratic Party (NDP) 1997, 2004, 2006, and 2011. In 2014 Chow resigned from her Federal seat to run for Mayor of Toronto, but lost to John Tory.

Olivia Chow is Toronto’s first female mayor and the first racialized mayor -  together these represent a milestone in the city's history, breaking gender and racial barriers and highlighting the progress made towards inclusivity and diversity in leadership roles.

In her speech following the inauguration, the new Mayor of Toronto expanded on her vision: “Today is a day of renewal … The message is loud and clear … the people what change!” Chow reminded her audience of her own newcomer story, Hong Kong to St. Jamestown, and the dream that her parents had for a better future for the children - a dream shared by all newcomers, then and now.

Chow has re-imagined a different City of Toronto, a counter narrative to that of the previous government of John Tory who was often seen as siding with big business and was conservative to his core. Chow’s political stance conjures up a vision in which a newcomer family's life might look like this: “[They] just moved into a nice, affordable, secure apartment in a friendly neighbourhood, with trees. [There are] parks, schools, libraries, restaurants, galleries and shops. They can rely on the TTC to get to work on time … they can go swimming in the local pool, go skating at the local skating rink, their daughter can bike safely to school … it’s a good life, a better life in a city where they feel they belong, right here in Toronto, and that’s a city worth imagining, a city worth building together.”

Opposition to the election of Olivia Chow has predictably been promoted by Ontario’s Conservative Premiere Doug Ford, who is quoted as having said, “You know, I’ll tell you, if you want my opinion, if Olivia Chow gets in, it’ll be an unmitigated disaster,” Ford said. “Businesses are going to be fleeing Toronto as far as I'm concerned.”

The future of Toronto, and its new Mayor are entwined in significant social, political and financial challenges. Chow has identified that housing will be a key priority, however in order to realize this she will have to raise taxes. Additionally, she has inherited a housing crisis that was exacerbated by the pandemic and more than 50 years in disinvestment in affordable housing. And further more, Toronto’s transit system is in dire need of an overhaul at every level. The lack of adequate public services are also in the spotlight, and a surge in stabbings, shooting, and assaults has highlighted concerns regarding public safety.

Olivia Chow’s tenure as mayor would depend on various factors, including her leadership style, the political climate, public support, and the specific policies and initiatives she implements.