A petition opposing renaming a Toronto park after late former mayor Rob Ford has nearly 1,000 signatures so far.
Last week, Scarborough-Guildwood Councillor Paul Ainslie issued a motion to rename the stadium at Centennial Park as the “Rob Ford Stadium.” The motion was seconded by Don Valley North Councillor Shelley Carroll.
The motion is set to be considered by council at a meeting on Wednesday.
“As Centennial Park undergoes a significant reimagining through the Centennial Park Master Plan, approved by City Council in 2021, the time is appropriate to consider renaming the Centennial Park Stadium the ‘Rob Ford Stadium’ in recognition of his decade and a half of public service,” the motion reads.
According to the motion, the city has historically recognized former mayors with commemorative renamings which “honour their service and spirit.” Examples include Mel Lastman Square at the North York Civic Centre, Barbara Hall Park, and June Rowlands Park.
“All of those who served with Rob Ford on Council knew that he had two passions – representing his constituents not only across the city but in particular in his home community of Etobicoke, and football,” the motion continues.
City council previously considered renaming the Centennial Park stadium after Ford back in 2017 but it was rejected. Both Ainslie and Carroll opposed the renaming at the time.
Rob Ford, who is Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s brother, served as the city councillor for Etobicoke North for 10 years and as mayor for four years. Shortly after being re-elected as councillor in 2014, Ford passed away from cancer.
Ford was involved in a number of controversies while serving on council, including for his alcohol and drug use and allegations of domestic abuse against his wife.
A spokesperson for Mayor Olivia Chow told The Star that she will support the motion to rename the park after Ford.
In response to the motion, a petition was created on change.org opposing the idea.
“Rob Ford was a harmful and problematic councillor and mayor. In addition to his record of sexism, misogyny, homophobia and racism, Ford’s policies held back the city of Toronto and created massive debt,” the petition reads.
“As residents of the City of Toronto we implore council to once again reject this motion and leave this harmful former mayor’s name off our institutions,” it continues.
The petition has 970 signatures at the time of publication, nearing its 1,000 signature goal.
Since news of the possible park renaming surfaced last week, some Torontonians have been reacting online in support of the idea.
To be totally fair Doug Ford did do one thing as Mayor. He united City Council to move in one direction on a number of key votes. They were all to strip him of power and pressure him to resign. But Council was united,” one user on X said.
“He was the best mayor Toronto ever had. You could call him any time with a problem and he would take care of it. A true man of the people,” another user said.
“Yes to Rob Ford Stadium! He was a better mayor than Tory and Miller,” one user added.
Meanwhile, others oppose the idea or think the park should be named after someone else.
“This is ridiculous! Olivia Chow obviously wants the province to back her plan! There are many other deserving people this stadium can be named after,” one X user said.
It is kinda amazing to live in a city that will name a stadium after Rob Ford but not a university after (Egerton) Ryerson,” another person said.
“Stop naming buildings after people! Especially those with questionable character,” one user added.
