By Tim Lambrinos
A celebration in the city’s west-end occurred on Tuesday May 28. Centennial Stadium was renamed and will now be called Rob Ford Stadium in honour of the former Toronto mayor after City council voted favor of the move in mid-December. The idea was first proposed by Scarborough Councillor Paul Ainslie.
Rob Ford died of cancer in 2016, and May 28th would have been his 55th birthday. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Councillor Stephen Holyday, daughter Stephanie Ford and Premier Doug Ford hosted the official ceremonies. Their speeches included a number of anecdotal stories about the former mayor and his love for the sport.
Mayor Chow discussed the historical significance of Centennial Park’s sports field and the former mayor’s overall impact and dedication to public service. She graciously reminded everyone that Rob Ford brought forward the renaming of the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in honour of her late husband.
Premier Doug Ford recounted a humorous story about his brother, who once delivered three submarine sandwiches to several persons when he was the mayor of Toronto. He did it in an effort to conscientiously pass on some good will to taxpayers. Rob’s other brother Randy was also in the audience and met up with some former high school football players from their local team, the Scarlett Heights Red Raiders. After the ceremony, Randy reflected upon his late brother’s memory.
“The honour was truly great and very well deserved,” he said. “It really was what Rob was all about.”
The event was indeed one for the entire Ford family as Rob Ford’s daughter Stephanie also made a moving speech about her dad when the skies began to clear. Local City Councillor Anthony Perruzza and Humber River Black Creek MPP Tom Rakocevic were also on hand and took part in the tribute and celebration.
“[Rob Ford] was a great football guy,” Perruzza said. He said it was truly inspiring to see all the former players from Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School participate in the celebration while wearing their uniforms.
With continuing and ongoing incentive to engage in youth sports, there remains a glimmer of hope that Emery Collegiate could once again resurrect their once proud boys’ football team. The team could traditionally be called either the Hillmen or the Eagles.
