Olivia Chow will officially take her seat as mayor of Toronto in two weeks.
Though the process usually takes weeks to swear in a new mayor, the city clerk says Chow has requested to start the job as soon as July 12. Once details are confirmed, the city will share the date of the declaration ceremony.
On Monday, thousands of Torontonians hit polling stations to vote for who they want as their next mayor. According to a mayoral by-election map, there were over 720,000 ballots cast, representing a voter turnout of about 38 per cent.
Chow received 37 per cent of the vote and just behind is former city councillor and deputy mayor Ana Bailão in second place with 32 per cent. In third place was former police chief Mark Saunders with 8.5 per cent.
READ MORE: Olivia Chow wins Toronto mayoral by-election
Reactions from politicians and high-profile figures immediately started pouring in following news of the new mayor, including from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford. Other figures who shared their congratulations include NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland.
Chow’s fellow mayoral opponents also offered their praise, such as runner up Bailão and Saunders, who some would argue ran a vicious campaign against Chow.
Other mayoral opponents who shared words of encouragement are former Toronto Sun columnist Anthony Furey who came in fourth place, city councillor Josh Matlow, former Member of Provincial Parliament for Scarborough-Guildwood Mitzie Hunter, and city councillor Brad Bradford.
