Once political rivals, now regional allies, Premier Kathleen Wynne and mayor-elect John Tory met publicly for the first time since the municipal election on Wednesday night.

The scene of their first meet was at the Spoke Club on King St. West for the packed Canadian launch of the UN’s HeForShe campaign promoting equal rights for women. It marked the start of a renewed relationship between the province and the city after a period of silence between the premier and the mayor’s office.

As they entered the second-floor venue separately — Wynne with her security detail, Tory with the campaign staff that have become part of his transition team — the politicians greeted guests before whispered planning by their staff lead to a parting of the crowd, allowing for their much-photographed meet.

The mayor-elect and the premier kissed on the cheeks before sharing a few laughs and a “congratulations” came from Wynne.

In her remarks Wednesday, the premier — who beat Tory for the Don Valley West seat during the 2007 provincial election — welcomed her “friend” to applause.

Taking the stage, Tory started his remarks by saying he and Wynne have a “long and very interesting relationship.”

“It’s not common when you compete for the same seat in the legislature with somebody that you necessarily emerge with a good relationship and emerge as people who can work together and I would say as friends,” Tory told the crowd.

“I have huge anticipation of the opportunity to work with Premier Kathleen Wynne and with her government to advance the interests of Toronto.”

But Tory said his favourite premier will always be his mentor, former premier Bill Davis, whose wife was in attendance on Wednesday.

Though Wynne remained neutral through the municipal campaign, most Liberal MPPs with ridings in Toronto backed Tory for mayor.

The strained relationship between the premier and outgoing Mayor Rob Ford has been no secret. The two have not spoken since November, when council stripped Ford of most of his powers.

In Shangai during Toronto’s election, Wynne also did not hide her enthusiasm at a change in the mayor’s office when she learned of Tory’s win last month. “Hallelujah” was the word she used.

While in China, Wynne praised Tory’s SmartTrack plan — which closely aligns with the province’s commitment to regional rail — calling it “something we can work with.”

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“He is somebody who’s got good working relationships with both senior levels of government and that’s extremely important,” Wynne said.

With files from Robert Benzie

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