Four years after hockey night’s Don Cherry declared war on the city’s “left wing pinkos” on the floor of council chambers, Mayor John Tory’s guest is expected to signal a change in decorum at city hall.

Louise Russo, a longtime friend and anti-violence advocate, will introduce Tory in council chambers Tuesday afternoon. Former Ontario premier Bill Davis will also be present, handing over the chain of office to Russo.

Russo started the charity Working Against Violence Everyday (W.A.V.E.) after she was shot by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting in 2004.

Tory and Russo have been friends since he reached out to her after the shooting, a release from the mayor’s office said.

Davis has long been a mentor and friend to Tory, who served under him as principal secretary and chief of staff.

Over the years, former chief justice Roy McMurtry had presided over inaugural council ceremonies, bestowing the chain of office on both former mayors Mel Lastman and David Miller.

But in 2010, Cherry, wearing a floral pink blazer, silver tie and clashing red rose over his heart stood at the wooden pulpit at city hall and immediately launched into an offensive against people that ride bicycles and “left-wing pinko newspapers.”

In a rambling and sometimes inaudible speech, Cherry compared Ford to former chief Julian Fantino — “no phony,” he said — and briefly told a story of a time Ford helped a woman whose favourite tree was cut down by the city. It was less than 500 words in all, lasting three minutes.

“That’s why I say he’ going to be the greatest mayor this city has ever seen, as far as I’m concerned,” Cherry concluded. Then: “And put that in your pipe you left-wing kooks. Thank you very much.”

After a brief, stunned silence, there was a smattering of applause.

Four years and a crack cocaine scandal later, Tory’s name has replaced Ford’s on the blue banner that adorns his council seat.

Ford is still expected to be there in his new Ward 2 (Etobicoke North) seat, when Tory stands in front of his 44 council colleagues at 2 p.m. today and addresses the city that elected him — for the most part, those downtown, left-leaning residents that Cherry spoke of.

On Monday, his first day in office, Tory did not reveal who his guest speaker would be. But he said he hoped they would speak to the kind of message of unity he campaigned on.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: