[URBAN NOTE] "Searching for the Soul of John Tory’s Toronto"

[rfmcdonald]

Torontoist's David Hains wonders what John Tory is all about. What does he stand for, apart from not being Rob Ford?

When John Tory was elected one year ago today, there was a simple promise for his mayoralty: he would not be Rob Ford.

By that standard, he has succeeded. He has not embarrassed the city internationally, nor has he presided over historically significant incompetence. He goes to city events and announcements where attendees take him seriously, and acts as the city’s cheerleader-in-chief whether it’s the Pan Am Games or the Blue Jays playoff run.

Tory, with his background as a professional board member, is particularly well-suited for this part of the job. But there is another aspect of being mayor that should not be overshadowed by Rob Ford’s bad behaviour: the search for Toronto’s soul.

That is, what is the vision for the city, and what are the underlying principles and sensibilities that make that possible? One year later, how is John Tory doing at that more challenging job, the real standard to which we should hold the mayor?