Olivia Chow has officially been sworn in as Toronto’s new mayor. She represents the first person of colour and 66th mayor of Toronto.
A Declaration of Office Ceremony was held for Chow Wednesday morning at City Hall. Members of council, along with former mayors, city staff, Chow’s guests, and media were in attendance.
The ceremony was hosted by playwright and actor Jean Yoon, who is best known for her role in Kim’s Convenience. Chow entered the council chambers to the beat of Indigenous ceremonial drumming and singing.
Elder Dr. Duke Redbird, from the Saugeen Ojibway Nation, offered welcoming remarks and Sandra Whiting, president of the Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE) Canada, presented the African Ancestral Acknowledgement.
READ MORE: Olivia Chow to officially become Toronto’s mayor on Wednesday. Here’s what to expect
New Toronto Poet Laureate and JUNO award winner Professor Lillian Allen also offered a poetry reading.
Toronto City Clerk John D. Elvidge administered the Declaration of Office and then offered Chow the Chain of Office, which represents the responsibility, authority and dignity of the office of mayor. The chain contains elements from all of the municipalities which were amalgamated into the present-day city of Toronto.
After officially being sworn in as mayor, the 66-year-old made a speech to the Council Chamber and boldly stated, “today’s a day for renewal.”
“Over the past few months, in the midst of a campaign that would determine the future of our city, something interesting, even beautiful happened. We all found common cause in what we need to fix together. We have to address the housing crisis, to make the city safer, to fix the system, the transit system, to improve city services, the message was clear,” Chow said.
“Together we can and today we start!” Chow enthusiastically said.
The ceremony concluded with a musical performance by JUNO award-winning singer and songwriter Lorraine Segato, with Retrocity, and with the singing of O Canada by multi-award winning singer Jennifer Uy.
Since winning the election on June 26, the former NDP MPP says she has been busy at work meeting with various advocacy groups and concerned residents.
“I’ve met with people that are working together to build housing, to provide local economic development opportunities for residents in Scarborough. I’ve met with people that delivered crisis intervention services. I’ve met with people that deliver housing, shelter services, counseling to lift women up to make sure these women and their children have a good life,” she said to the media after the ceremony.
As for her first priority as mayor, Chow says housing tops the list, followed by transit and then improving city services.
“We need housing now. So we are seeking other levels of government to support us so that we could take some of the folks already in shelter to make sure they have a safe and secure home,” she said to Now Toronto.
Chow’s first council meeting is slated for Wednesday, July 19 at 9 a.m.
Jennifer McKelvie will continue on as deputy mayor after she served as the city’s acting mayor following the resignation of former mayor John Tory.
Chow added that she is unsure when she’ll announce who will be appointed as her committee chairs. Last month, Chow announced that Michal Hay will be her chief of staff. Hay served as former city councillor Mike Layton’s chief of staff. Layton is the son of late NDP leader Jack Layton, who was married to Chow from 1988 until his death in Aug. 2011.
