Could Rob Ford soon have a Toronto stadium named after him?
CBC
The football stadium at Etobicoke's Centennial Park could soon bear a new name — the Rob Ford Stadium.
That is, if some members at city council get the green light.
A motion has been added to the agenda of next week's council meeting to discuss renaming the stadium after the late mayor, who was once a prolific high school football coach. The motion is even garnering support from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow — who ran against Rob Ford's brother — now Premier Doug Ford, in the 2014 mayoral election. Her office confirmed Friday she will support the motion.
Coun. Paul Ainslie, who represents Ward 24, Scarborough-Guildwood, is tabling the motion. He says in the motion that the City of Toronto has recognized former mayors, including Mel Lastman with Mel Lastman Square, Barbara Hall with Barbara Hall Park and June Rowlands with June Rowlands Park.
"All of those who served with Rob Ford on Council knew that he had two passions — representing his constituents not only across the city but in particular in his home community of Etobicoke, and football," the motion reads.
Coun. Shelley Carroll, who represents Ward 17, Don Valley North, is seconding the motion. For it to be considered by council, the motion requires the votes of two-thirds of city council members.
This isn't the first time the city has considered renaming the stadium after the football coach-turned mayor.
In 2017, just over a year after Ford's death, then mayor John Tory backed a motion to name the stadium in Ford's honour. Council voted against it, 24 to 11. His brother, who was a past city councillor, said the "fix was in" days before the vote even happened.
Ainslie was one of the councillors who said 'no' to Ford's namesake being on the park at the time.
Now, in his motion, Ainslie said it's the right time, citing upgrades coming to the park.
"As Centennial Park undergoes a significant re-imagining through the Centennial Park Master Plan, approved by City Council in 2021, the time is appropriate to consider renaming the Centennial Park Stadium the 'Rob Ford Stadium' in recognition of his decade and a half of public service."
While some councillors support the move, not all are in favour.
Coun. Josh Matlow, who represents Ward 12, Toronto-St. Paul's, told CBC Toronto in a statement that there are people more deserving of such an honour.
"I can think of many people, all of whom who haven't been dishonest, misogynist, homophobic or caught smoking crack with gang members and disgraced our city, who would be more deserving," he said. "I cannot in good conscience support this motion."
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