Toronto/CMEDIA: Following the certification of the election on June 28, Mayor-elect Olivia Chow was reportedly declared as a Mayor of Toronto today, July 12 at 11 a.m after making the Declaration of Office administered by Toronto City Clerk John D. Elvidge.
The City Councillors, City staff and agency representatives, former mayors and guests of the Mayor-elect attended the ceremony
The program featured the Declaration of Office, a speech by the Mayor, ceremonial elements, Indigenous teachings and various performances.
Before the Declaration of Office ceremony and in the spirit of unity, Elder Garry Sault and Grandmother Tina Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation welcomed the Mayor-elect Chow as a partner in peace, friendship and respect.
Mayor-elect Chow was welcomed to the Council Chamber by ceremonial drumming and singing by Young Creek Big Drum, Anishinaabe from the Wikwemikong First Nation.
Jean Yoon, renowned playwright, actor, ACTRA Award winner and Toronto resident, served as the Master of Ceremonies and deliver the land acknowledgment.
Explaining the significance of water that was shared at the morning’s Indigenous Welcoming Ceremony contained in the silver teapot displayed in the Chamber, Elder Garry and Grandmother Tina Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation explained the significance of symbolic of the City’s commitment to its Reconciliation Action Plan.
African Ancestral Acknowledgement was also presented by Sandra Whiting, President of the Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education (PACE) Canada and a prominent voice in Toronto’s Black Canadian community.
Poetry reading by Lillian Allen, new Toronto Poet Laureate, JUNO Award winner and professor of creative writing at OCAD University was also be included in the ceremony.
Following the Declaration of Office for the Mayor, the City Clerk presented the Chain of Office — contains elements from all of the municipalities which were amalgamated into the present-day city of Toronto — to Mayor Chow by placing it around the Mayor’s neck and was worn throughout the Mayoral Declaration of Office ceremony.
Following the speech by the Mayor, the occasion was marked by the musical performance by JUNO Award-winning singer and songwriter Lorraine Segato, with Retrocity.
The singing of our national anthem O Canada performed by Jennifer Uy, classically trained, multi-award-winning singer and local small business champion concluded the Declaration of Office ceremony.
