A media release from the Associated Press and carried by news organizations across the United States described Ford as a “pugnacious, populist former mayor” who “cast an image sharply at odds with Canada’s reputation for sedate, unpretentious politics”.
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At first, the rotund Ford denied using the drug, but he later acknowledged smoking crack cocaine in a “drunken stupor”, while saying he was not an addict.
He later entered rehab in 2014 to combat his addictions.
The exact type of cancer Ford was diagnosed with is called pleomorphic liposarcoma, a rare and hard-to-treat cancer found in the soft, fatty tissue of the body.
Ford his survived by his wife and two young children.
Robert Sino, another former player, said he’ll never forget the lessons Ford taught him.
From the beginning of his embattled term as mayor, Ford’s actions came under scrutiny.
“Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine”, he said. He later admitted to using the drug.
Early this morning his office confirmed he had been moved into palliative care, and he died this afternoon. Ford’s father, himself a politician and a successful businessman, Doug Sr., died in 2006. “You could phone him up anytime and Rob Ford would call you back”.
Story after story about Rob’s bad behaviour – smoking crack tops the list – seemed to take some of the steam out of Ford Nation.
For months, Ford denied his drug consumption or the existence of the video, but when Toronto police made a raid and arrested a group of drug traffickers who were in possession of the video, the then-mayor acknowledged that he had indeed smoked crack. Among other things, he often took time off from work to help coach a high school football team – a particular passion. Proceeds from at least one edition of the so-called “Robbie Bobbies” went to two Toronto hospitals where Ford received treatment for cancer.
Ford already had served as a city councillor when he was elected mayor of Toronto in October 2010, winning 47 percent of the vote as his campaign to stop the waste at city hall and strong suburban support overcame Toronto’s liberal downtown voters. Ford and crack cocaine Ford controversy included lies about public behavior, racial slurs, refusing to attend Gay Pride, and off-color remarks about women.
Also at Queen’s Park, Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown expressed condolences, noting that the “entire province mourns the loss of Rob Ford”.
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His successor as Toronto mayor, John Tory, also responded to the controversial politician’s death. Instead, Ford ran for and won election as a city councilor in his old ward seat.
