Olivia Chow, running to be our new mayor, has run a campaign rich in specific proposals. Already, she’s released clear, costed policy ideas to get people moving right now; support children and families; and create jobs. Olivia will speak about the imperative of now in addressing the City of Toronto’s biggest challenges.
Olivia Chow has been a Member of Parliament, city councillor and school trustee. She’s a grandmother and daughter. And she has a proven track record engaging people to build stronger families and better neighbourhoods.
She moved to Toronto from Hong Kong in 1970 when she was 13, working two jobs to help her family make ends meet. After graduating university, Olivia taught English as a second language and worked to help newcomers settle in the city. In 1985, she was elected to the school board and earned a reputation as a champion for children. She married Jack Layton in 1988, and helped raise Mike and Sarah Layton.
She was elected to the former Metro Council in 1991 and 1994, and to the new city of Toronto’s council in 1997, 2000 and 2003. Former Mayor Mel Lastman appointed her to the budget committee, where she helped deliver five straight balanced budgets. Mayor Lastman also named her the city’s first child and youth advocate, where she delivered better kids’ dental services, student nutrition programs and youth safety initiatives. She was key in getting the 911 service to work in 140 languages.
In 2006, Olivia was elected as an MP. A strong voice for federal investment in our infrastructure, she earned a reputation for working with MPs from all parties. She was re-elected in 2008 and 2011.
Olivia lives with her mother, Ho Sze, and helps care for her father, Wilson Wai Sun. She has two granddaughters, Beatrice and Solace. In 2014, her best-selling memoir, My Journey, was published.
Recognition for being one of our city’s most effective leaders include a Toronto Sun readers’ choice gold award for being a Top Torontonian, being named Canada’s Woman of the Year by Consumer Choice and best City Councillor nine times by Now Magazine.
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