Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Toronto's mayor recommends stadium be renamed to honour Rob Ford

Darpan News Desk, 29 Sep, 2017 11:17 AM

    The mayor of Toronto is recommending that a stadium be named after his infamous predecessor — the late Rob Ford.

    In a letter to council, John Tory calls for the renaming of a stadium at Centennial Park, in the city's west end, to Rob Ford Memorial Stadium.

    Tory notes that Ford, who was a lifelong west-end resident, became known for his "unique approach to public service" after being elected to city council in November 2000 and he carried it on after being elected mayor in 2010.

    But he says Ford's community involvement went well beyond politics, and his passion for football led him to found the Newtonbrook North Stars in 1999 and a highly successful football program at Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School in 2002. He also established the Rob Ford Football Foundation, a program that helps fund football programs in high schools across the city.

    Tory says it would be fitting, in light of Ford's many years of work on football programs, to ename a football stadium to honour Ford, who died in March 2016 from a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

    Ford became a certified celebrity in light of his admitted crack cocaine use, alcohol abuse, lewd comments and at times outrageous behaviour that transformed his mayoral office into an unprecedented spectacle.

    Ford, whose clarion call was "time to stop the gravy train," died at age 46, 18 months after a cancer diagnosis scuttled his bid for a second term as mayor, although he easily won election as a councillor in his west-end ward.

    Tory also is recommending council honour two other city council members who have died recently — deputy mayor Pam McConnell, and Coun. Ron Moeser.

    In consultation with the McConnell and Moeser families, Tory said he would convene panels of councillors and community members in order to determine suitable public properties that could be renamed in their memory.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    PICs: Justin Trudeau Shows Off Farming Skills At International Plowing Match

    PICs: Justin Trudeau Shows Off Farming Skills At International Plowing Match
    WALTON, Ont. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to show off his farming skills Friday at the International Plowing Match in southwestern Ontario.

    PICs: Justin Trudeau Shows Off Farming Skills At International Plowing Match

    'Turn Off The Heat,' Toronto Ombudsman Tells Landlords As Heatwave Hits City

    'Turn Off The Heat,' Toronto Ombudsman Tells Landlords As Heatwave Hits City
    TORONTO — With temperatures expected to top 30 Celsius this weekend and humidex values forecast to be pushing 40 degrees, Toronto's ombudsman is calling on the city's landlords to "turn off the heat."

    'Turn Off The Heat,' Toronto Ombudsman Tells Landlords As Heatwave Hits City

    Saskatchewan Man Who Attacked Woman, Set Her Ablaze Gets 16 Years In Prison

    Saskatchewan Man Who Attacked Woman, Set Her Ablaze Gets 16 Years In Prison
    PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — A Saskatchewan man who viciously attacked a homeless woman and set her on fire has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

    Saskatchewan Man Who Attacked Woman, Set Her Ablaze Gets 16 Years In Prison

    Andrew Scheer Calls Environment Minister To Apologize For MP's Sexist Insult

    Andrew Scheer Calls Environment Minister To Apologize For MP's Sexist Insult
    Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has personally apologized to Environment Minister Catherine McKenna for a Tory MP's remark referring to her as "climate Barbie."

    Andrew Scheer Calls Environment Minister To Apologize For MP's Sexist Insult

    'It's Absolutely Scandalous:' Alberta Man Fined $13,000 For Killing Grizzly Bear

    'It's Absolutely Scandalous:' Alberta Man Fined $13,000 For Killing Grizzly Bear
    EDSON, Alta. — An Alberta man charged with killing a collared grizzly bear that was being tracked for research will pay nearly $13,000 in fines, but some say it doesn't go far enough to protect the threatened species.

    'It's Absolutely Scandalous:' Alberta Man Fined $13,000 For Killing Grizzly Bear

    Ontario Girl Who Was Teased For Love Of Bugs Gets Name In Science Journal

    Ontario Girl Who Was Teased For Love Of Bugs Gets Name In Science Journal
    Sophia Spencer hated it when classmates taunted her for her love of insects, but seeing them kill her pet grasshoppers for fun was even worse.

    Ontario Girl Who Was Teased For Love Of Bugs Gets Name In Science Journal