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| Mourners in Toronto recall Rob Ford as the everyman mayor: 'People loved him' | Mourners in Toronto recall Rob Ford as the everyman mayor: 'People loved him' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The lapels of his suit covered in red and blue Rob Ford campaign merchandise, Kenny Neville voice rose with excitement as he described what made the late mayor of Toronto different from any other politician in Canada. | The lapels of his suit covered in red and blue Rob Ford campaign merchandise, Kenny Neville voice rose with excitement as he described what made the late mayor of Toronto different from any other politician in Canada. |
| “I can sum it up in one word: people.” | “I can sum it up in one word: people.” |
| Neville had experienced Ford’s appeal firsthand when he volunteered on Ford’s second mayoral campaign in 2014. “To go with him everywhere he went was special. Wherever he went, he was swamped. People loved him,” he said. | Neville had experienced Ford’s appeal firsthand when he volunteered on Ford’s second mayoral campaign in 2014. “To go with him everywhere he went was special. Wherever he went, he was swamped. People loved him,” he said. |
| On Monday, Toronto residents lined up in droves to pay tribute to Ford as he lay in repose at city hall, in an outpouring of affection for the popular politician whose common touch was often eclipsed by his colourful outbursts and and erratic behaviour. | |
| Ford died last Tuesday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 46. | Ford died last Tuesday after an 18-month battle with cancer. He was 46. |
| Neville urged the city council to consider designating 22 March – the date of Ford’s death – Rob Ford Day. Doing so would honour the late politician, as well as the many he touched during his career, said Neville. “He is the king of all mayors – he’ll always be the king of all mayors.” | Neville urged the city council to consider designating 22 March – the date of Ford’s death – Rob Ford Day. Doing so would honour the late politician, as well as the many he touched during his career, said Neville. “He is the king of all mayors – he’ll always be the king of all mayors.” |
| Hundreds of residents somberly filed past the casket on Monday, draped in the blue and white, maple leaf-emblazoned flag of Toronto. Those who came were a diverse group, dressed in everything from suits and high heels to sweatpants. | Hundreds of residents somberly filed past the casket on Monday, draped in the blue and white, maple leaf-emblazoned flag of Toronto. Those who came were a diverse group, dressed in everything from suits and high heels to sweatpants. |
| Some shed a tear as they said goodbye, others said a prayer. | Some shed a tear as they said goodbye, others said a prayer. |
| “We lost a tremendous voice,” said Patricia Reilly as she waited in line to pay her respects. “He was the voice of the little guy, the little girl, the little family.” | “We lost a tremendous voice,” said Patricia Reilly as she waited in line to pay her respects. “He was the voice of the little guy, the little girl, the little family.” |
| A city councillor since 2000, Ford vaulted into Toronto’s top office in 2010 by tapping into suburban resentment over the city’s focus on urban issues such as bike lanes and green roofs. Promising to “stop the gravy train” of government spending and put an end to what he called “the war on the car”, his dogged focus on slashing spending was epitomised by his stubborn refusal to use a chauffeur, rack up office expenses or accept a security detail. | A city councillor since 2000, Ford vaulted into Toronto’s top office in 2010 by tapping into suburban resentment over the city’s focus on urban issues such as bike lanes and green roofs. Promising to “stop the gravy train” of government spending and put an end to what he called “the war on the car”, his dogged focus on slashing spending was epitomised by his stubborn refusal to use a chauffeur, rack up office expenses or accept a security detail. |
| Related: Canada is Justin Trudeau, but it is also Rob Ford | Related: Canada is Justin Trudeau, but it is also Rob Ford |
| What emerged was a unique brand of politics that stood up for the working class and gave a voice to those left behind as the city grew more prosperous, said Reilly. “There’s a very small minority of people in Toronto that champion the causes of the underdog and Rob Ford was one of those individuals. So his loss to Toronto is immense.” | What emerged was a unique brand of politics that stood up for the working class and gave a voice to those left behind as the city grew more prosperous, said Reilly. “There’s a very small minority of people in Toronto that champion the causes of the underdog and Rob Ford was one of those individuals. So his loss to Toronto is immense.” |
| A divisive figure, Ford was pilloried by critics over his steady stream of blunt comments, ranging from remarking that “oriental people work like dogs” and calling Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, a “fag”. Viral videos showed Ford staggering around a room ranting about killing someone, while another showed him calling the city police chief a derogatory name and attempting a Jamaican accent. | A divisive figure, Ford was pilloried by critics over his steady stream of blunt comments, ranging from remarking that “oriental people work like dogs” and calling Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, a “fag”. Viral videos showed Ford staggering around a room ranting about killing someone, while another showed him calling the city police chief a derogatory name and attempting a Jamaican accent. |
| His supporters rallied behind him, pointing to his everyman image and the concept of authenticity to explain the incidents. “What he provided was a measure of truthfulness that is sorely lacking in politics in Canada today,” said Reilly. “I don’t ever believe that anything he ever said or did was out of malice.” | His supporters rallied behind him, pointing to his everyman image and the concept of authenticity to explain the incidents. “What he provided was a measure of truthfulness that is sorely lacking in politics in Canada today,” said Reilly. “I don’t ever believe that anything he ever said or did was out of malice.” |
| As a city councillor in a working class district with a high immigrant population, Ford cultivated a reputation for being accessible, often handing out his home phone number and personally returning calls on issues that ranged from daycare waiting lists to broken water pipes. He continued the tradition when he became mayor, to the ire of those who wanted him to focus on the bigger-picture issues facing Toronto. | As a city councillor in a working class district with a high immigrant population, Ford cultivated a reputation for being accessible, often handing out his home phone number and personally returning calls on issues that ranged from daycare waiting lists to broken water pipes. He continued the tradition when he became mayor, to the ire of those who wanted him to focus on the bigger-picture issues facing Toronto. |
| Having heard of the mayor’s reputation, Jimmy Christakis, a server at a high-end hotel in Toronto, put it to the test over a pothole. “I had spoken to the councillor in my area who didn’t do anything. So I called the mayor.” Within two days Ford was on the line, returning his call. A week later, the issue was resolved. | Having heard of the mayor’s reputation, Jimmy Christakis, a server at a high-end hotel in Toronto, put it to the test over a pothole. “I had spoken to the councillor in my area who didn’t do anything. So I called the mayor.” Within two days Ford was on the line, returning his call. A week later, the issue was resolved. |
| “It made me feel special. Councillors didn’t have time, but yet the mayor of this big city somehow managed to find time,” he said. On Monday, Christakis came to pay tribute to the man who had listened to him when nobody else would. | “It made me feel special. Councillors didn’t have time, but yet the mayor of this big city somehow managed to find time,” he said. On Monday, Christakis came to pay tribute to the man who had listened to him when nobody else would. |
| In May 2013, reports emerged of a video that had shown Ford inhaling from a crack pipe. The mayor initially denied the allegations, but was forced to backtrack months later when the Toronto police said they had found the recording. | In May 2013, reports emerged of a video that had shown Ford inhaling from a crack pipe. The mayor initially denied the allegations, but was forced to backtrack months later when the Toronto police said they had found the recording. |
| “Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,” he told reporters. “But, no, do I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago.” | “Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,” he told reporters. “But, no, do I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago.” |
| The admission catapulted Ford into headlines around the world. “That wasn’t the big picture of Rob Ford,” said Elaine Morrison, who had come to pay her respects with her 83-year-old mother. “That wasn’t the person we saw.” | The admission catapulted Ford into headlines around the world. “That wasn’t the big picture of Rob Ford,” said Elaine Morrison, who had come to pay her respects with her 83-year-old mother. “That wasn’t the person we saw.” |
| As American late-night TV hosts skewered Ford nightly, his supporters saw themselves reflected in his very public shortcomings, even as he refused to resign. “He was human. I think maybe that’s what made him more approachable to people,” said Morrison. | As American late-night TV hosts skewered Ford nightly, his supporters saw themselves reflected in his very public shortcomings, even as he refused to resign. “He was human. I think maybe that’s what made him more approachable to people,” said Morrison. |
| Those waiting to file past the casket on Monday included Julie Tonner, a flight attendant from Atlanta, Georgia, who had ended up in Toronto for work. “I found him refreshing in an odd kind of way,” she said. “You didn’t always agree with everything he said or did, he could be a little bombastic and seemed kind of crazy, but he seemed honest.” | Those waiting to file past the casket on Monday included Julie Tonner, a flight attendant from Atlanta, Georgia, who had ended up in Toronto for work. “I found him refreshing in an odd kind of way,” she said. “You didn’t always agree with everything he said or did, he could be a little bombastic and seemed kind of crazy, but he seemed honest.” |
| She waved off the suggestion of any parallel between Ford and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. “I can’t see Donald Trump calling somebody at their house or getting a wedding invitation and replying with $300 [and] saying, I can’t be there, but good luck in your married life,” she said. “Donald Trump collects things, and I think Rob Ford was real.” | She waved off the suggestion of any parallel between Ford and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. “I can’t see Donald Trump calling somebody at their house or getting a wedding invitation and replying with $300 [and] saying, I can’t be there, but good luck in your married life,” she said. “Donald Trump collects things, and I think Rob Ford was real.” |
| The repose will continue on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the coffin will be carried in a procession from city hall to St James Cathedral for the funeral. A private ceremony will follow, but a public celebration of Ford’s life is being planned for Wednesday evening. | The repose will continue on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the coffin will be carried in a procession from city hall to St James Cathedral for the funeral. A private ceremony will follow, but a public celebration of Ford’s life is being planned for Wednesday evening. |