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In one more example of the changing times at Toronto City Hall, Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly has hung an impressive painting of former politician Fred Gardiner in the space where Mayor Rob Ford’s fish tank once stood.

The deputy mayor, who has assumed many of the mayor’s powers in the wake of the crack cocaine scandal, had staff dig up from storage “Big Daddy Gardiner” and put it on display.

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The giant portrait of the first chairman of Metropolitan Toronto is hanging next to where the mayor’s “Cut the Waist” scale had been.

“This guy was just energy personified,” recalled Mr. Kelly, a former history professor. “He, with his engineers, drove all around Toronto. They were picking out routes for our super highways, like the DVP, Spadina and the Gardiner. Very forward-looking.”

Mr. Kelly, a former member of Metro Toronto, believes the amalgamated city should take its guidance from Metro, not the former city of Toronto.