Hours of planning, dozens of balloons expectantly strung up on the ceiling and media crammed into the Liberty Grand all waiting for one moment — we just didn’t know what moment it would be.

Would John Tory, one of three top contenders to be Toronto’s new mayor, be announcing victory or defeat?

For more than 200 days, Tory campaigned against Rob Ford and Olivia Chow. When Ford was suddenly diagnosed with cancer in September, Tory went head-to-head with Ford’s older brother Doug Ford, who took his spot in the race with just weeks before the vote.