John Tory Biography

(65th Mayor of Toronto)

Birthday: May 28, 1954 (Gemini)

Born In: Toronto, Canada

John Howard Tory, OOnt QC is a Canadian lawyer, businessman, broadcaster and politician presently serving as 65th Mayor of Toronto. Early career of Tory saw him practicing law and working as a businessman and political strategist. He unsuccessfully ran as a mayoral candidate during the 2003 Toronto municipal election and later became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, holding such position for over four years. Meanwhile, he became Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey in 2005 and served as the 33rd Leader of the Opposition in Ontario for a couple of years. He forayed as a radio talk show host on CFRB following his resignation as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. After serving as volunteer chair of the non-profit, non-partisan organization coalition CivicAction, Tory ran at the 2014 Toronto Mayoral Election and this time won the election defeating former councillor and MP Olivia Chow and incumbent Mayor Rob Ford's brother councillor Doug Ford. Tory assumed office as the 65th Mayor of Toronto in December 2014.
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Quick Facts

Canadian Celebrities Born In May

Also Known As: John Howard Tory

Age: 70 Years, 70 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Barbara Hackett (m. 1978)

father: John A. Tory

mother: Elizabeth Bacon

siblings: Jeffrey Tory, Jennifer Tory, Michael Tory

children: Christopher Tory, George Tory, John Tory, Jr., Susan Tory

Lawyers Political Leaders

political ideology: Independent

Notable Alumni: Trinity College, Toronto, Osgoode Hall Law School

Ancestry: Russian Canadian

City: Toronto, Canada

More Facts

education: Trinity College, Toronto, Osgoode Hall Law School

awards: Order of Ontario

  • 1

    What is John Tory's political background?

    John Tory is a Canadian politician who currently serves as the mayor of Toronto. He has also been involved in provincial politics, serving as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario from 2004 to 2009.
  • 2

    What are some key initiatives John Tory has implemented as mayor of Toronto?

    As mayor of Toronto, John Tory has focused on issues such as transit expansion, affordable housing, and economic development. He has spearheaded projects like the SmartTrack transit plan and the Housing Now initiative to address these issues.
  • 3

    How has John Tory responded to challenges facing Toronto, such as the opioid crisis and gun violence?

    John Tory has taken a multi-faceted approach to addressing challenges like the opioid crisis and gun violence in Toronto. He has advocated for increased funding for mental health and addiction services, as well as investing in community-based initiatives to prevent violence.
  • 4

    What is John Tory's stance on environmental issues?

    John Tory has expressed support for initiatives to combat climate change and promote sustainability in Toronto. He has championed projects like the TransformTO climate action plan and has emphasized the importance of investing in green infrastructure.
  • 5

    How has John Tory navigated the relationship between the city of Toronto and the provincial government?

    John Tory has worked to maintain a constructive relationship with the provincial government, advocating for the interests of Toronto while seeking to collaborate on key issues like transit funding and infrastructure projects.
Childhood & Early Life
John Howard Tory was born on May 28, 1954, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada as eldest child of John A. Tory and Elizabeth (née Bacon). His father was a Canadian lawyer and corporate executive who served as president of Thomson Investments Limited and as director of Rogers Communications. His grandfather John S. D. Tory, a Toronto lawyer, founded the law firm Torys. Tory has one sister, Jennifer and two brothers, Jeffery and Michael.
He followed footsteps of his grandfather and father and studied at the University of Toronto Schools. He attended Trinity College at the University of Toronto and earned Bachelor of Arts degree in political science in 1975. Thereafter he enrolled at the Osgoode Hall Law School of York University and obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1978. In 1980, he received a call to the bar. He is a United Church of Canada member.
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Career in Business
Hired by family friend Ted Rogers, Tory worked as journalist for the Rogers Media owned Toronto radio stations CFTR and CHFI from 1972 to 1979. He remained associated with Tory, Tory, DesLauriers & Binnington first from 1980 to 1981, and then from 1986 to 1995 holding different positions including as partner, managing partner, and Executive Committee member.
He worked as principal secretary to the Premier of Ontario, Bill Davis and as associate secretary of the cabinet from 1981 to 1985. Thereafter he served as special advisor in the office of the Canadian Special Envoy on Acid Rain
He remained campaign chairman and tour director of the then Prime Minister Brian Mulroney as also managed Kim Campbell’s campaign during the 1993 federal election.
He served as president and CEO of Rogers Media from 1995 to 1999 and also had a stint as president and CEO of Rogers subsidiary Rogers Cable from 1999. From 1996 to 2000 Tory remained the ninth commissioner of the Canadian Football League. For several years, he hosted a public affairs program on the community access channel of Rogers Cable. He also remained a member of the board of the Canadian food retailer Metro Inc.
Political Career
Tory remained a key backer of the 62nd Mayor of Toronto Mel Lastman for six years and served as campaign co-chair of the latter’s 1998 and 2000 mayoral runs. After Lastman announced of not running for re-election, Tory entered the race for Mayor of Toronto during the November 2003 election which was finally won by David Miller. Tory later aided Miller and another Mayoral candidate Barbara Hall in raising funds to repay their campaign debts.
After the then Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader Ernie Eves announced his intent to resign as leader, Tory hinted of running in the election and made his candidacy official on May 6, 2004. He won the leadership by approximately 54% of the vote on the second ballot and held office as Leader of the Ontario PC Party from September 28, 2004 to March 20, 2009.
Eves resigned as Member of the Ontario Provincial Parliament for Dufferin—Peel—Wellington—Grey, on January 31, 2005 and paved Tory’s way to run in that provincial electoral district in southwestern Ontario, considered the most safe Conservative seat in the province. Tory won the by-election with 56% of the vote on March 17, 2005 and assumed office as Ontario MPP on March 29, 2005.
He succeeded Bob Runciman as the 33rd Leader of the Opposition in Ontario and held such position from March 29, 2005 to October 10, 2007.
He ran from the provincial electoral district of Don Valley West during the Ontario general election of 2007, held on October 10, that year. The riding garnered attention during the election as Tory, who lived most of his life in the area and who at the time was holding position of leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, faced defeat by Kathleen Wynne, the incumbent MPP, Ontario Liberal Education Minister.
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Following his loss to Liberal candidate Rick Johnson in the March 5, 2009, by-election in Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes—Brock, generally considered a safe PC riding in central Ontario, Tory resigned as party leader after which Bob Runciman succeeded as interim leader.
Weeks after his provincial political career ended, Tory made his comeback to broadcasting in pursuit of hosting a Sunday evening phone-in show in the AM radio clear-channel station CFRB in Toronto. The radio stations CHAM in Hamilton and CKTB in St. Catharines simultaneously transmitted ‘The John Tory Show’.Meanwhile Tory also sought openings in law, business and in the non-profit sector
He was shifted to the Monday to Friday afternoon slot of CFRB in fall 2009 for the 4pm to 7pm new show ‘Live Drive’ that was first aired on October 5, that year. Tory featured in the show for the last time on February 21, 2014, before announcing his mayoral candidacy. His work as co-chair of DiverseCity earned him a Harry Jerome Award in 2011. The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was also awarded to him.
Although in-between he considered challenging incumbent Toronto Mayor David Miller during the 2010 municipal election, he later dropped the idea so as to continue his radio show and also become Board Chair of CivicAction, a position he held from 2010 to 2014. His association with CivicAction as a founding member and chair as also being chairs and volunteers on numerous fundraising campaigns have been recognised by making him a member of the Order of Ontario in 2012.
On February 24, 2014, Tory registered his candidacy for the 2014 Toronto mayoral election that took place on October 27 that year. Tory won the election defeating incumbent Mayor Rob Ford’s brother and city councillor Doug Ford, and former Trinity—Spadina MP Olivia Chow, and assumed office as the 65th Mayor of Toronto on December 1, 2014.
Tory called to end the Community Contacts Policy on June 7, 2015 and the Toronto Police Board, invalidated rules that govern the use of such controversial policy that allowed police to randomly stop any person they felt suspicious and check identification and personal information.
Although many including former Mayor David Crombie prefer to raze off the Gardiner Expressway instead of renovating it, Tory has continued to back the renovation of Gardiner Expressway east of Jarvis Street. He is also in favour of developing a one-stop extension of Toronto subway Line 2 and has also placed a proposal in August 2016 to develop a 21-acre greenspace in the downtown core to be built above the Railway Lands.
Tory registered his candidacy for the Toronto mayoral election of 2018 on May 1, 2018. The election held on October 22 that year saw Tory being re-elected for a second term. Tory kept his promise of keeping the property tax increases lower than or at least at the rate of inflation during his last spell as Mayor and has made such commitment this time as well.
Family & Personal Life
He met his future wife Barbara Hackett in 1976, while the two were attending York University. They married in 1978 and have four children and five grandchildren. Barbara, by profession a home builder and renovator, was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome in 1991.
Facts About John Tory
John Tory is known for his love of cycling and has been spotted biking around Toronto, promoting a healthy and active lifestyle.
He is a skilled pianist and has performed at various events and fundraisers in the city.
John Tory has a passion for community service and has volunteered with numerous organizations, showing his dedication to giving back.
He is a big fan of Toronto sports teams and can often be seen cheering on the Raptors, Maple Leafs, and Blue Jays.
John Tory is a proud dog owner and often shares photos of his beloved pet on social media, showcasing his softer side.
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