Toronto

Mayor Rob Ford will attend Remembrance Day services at Old City Hall Monday.

And his brother Councillor Doug Ford says there is nothing that would stop him from honouring Canada’s veterans and war dead.

He will attend as mayor of Toronto. And, says his brother, he will attend as Rob Ford.

“It is important to him,” adds Doug, who will be attending his own Royal Canadian Legion’s Remembrance Day ceremony in Etobicoke.

A year ago, there was an incident where the mayor was heckled and there were others demonstrating. Who knows, in light of the political scandal that has engulfed the city, what will transpire this year.

But nothing will prevent Ford from supporting the troops, the veterans and those who died for the country.

“He will be there 100%,” says Doug.

Last year, the mayor made these comments.

“Veterans of all ages can surely take heart in that our younger generations will never, ever forget them and those who have served and never returned. We thank you, salute you and we will always remember you.”

The mayor was said to be working Sunday on his remarks for his time at the podium.

Meanwhile, the rest of the weekend was dedicated to what Doug Ford describes as “getting better.” Namely, he was focused on dealing with his demons and dangerous lifestyle choices.

And taking a breather from a wild week in his life and political career.

He admitted to once smoking crack, was captured in a past video appearing profane and threatening, was the butt of jokes on American comedy shows and lost his weekly radio show.

How was your week?

Mayor Ford’s was one for the books.

But Doug says it did rattle the mayor, who wants to fix his life, hang on to his elected position and ensure his name appears on the ballot a year from now, too.

“He is taking it seriously,” explains Doug, who has admitted his brother’s confession that he smoked crack cocaine after six months of untruths was “the worst day of my life.”

But it was a wake-up call.

“It was for Rob, too,” says Doug. “That video (of the mayor ranting) had an effect on him.”

It has been explained as some sort of an over-the-top WWE-style wrestling rant but the mayor was at a loss for words while watching it and later while trying to explain it, adds Doug.

As lawyer Dennis Morris says, he believes the mayor is not sure himself. Ford told reporters he was extremely “inebriated.”

Whatever it was, politics aside, it’s clear the mayor needs help and Doug says he is accepting it.

He would not comment on details but a source close to the mayor told me he met Saturday with a doctor, got together with a personal trainer who put him through a workout and also a saw a person with expertise in nutrition.

There are plans for more of the same.

“All I will say is Rob said he felt great,” Doug says. “He feels like a champion — like he has been reborn.”

But they did miss doing their radio show on Newstalk 1010.

“I always said Rob was like the Don Cherry of Sunday afternoon radio,” adds Doug. “You had to hear what he had to say, the same as Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern.”

The brothers mutually agreed with Newstalk 1010 management to end their weekly radio show.

There are many on and off council who are urging Ford to step away or resign. There is still a police investigation underway and more bombshells could be released this week from court transcripts of police surveillance.

Doug Ford has encouraged his brother to take a vacation but the mayor has opted for an approach of working with professionals here while trying to return calls from taxpayers.

Doug Ford says the mayor wants to move forward instead of focusing on the past.

Who knows what’s ahead this week but those close to Mayor Rob Ford say he is insistent on starting it by remembering those who fought and died for freedom and democracy.