News of Rob Ford’s cancer diagnosis brought feuding mayoral candidates and city councillors together as many took time to express their well wishes to the family.
The mayor’s brother Doug Ford did not speak to the media but issued a statement shortly after Dr. Zane Cohen confirmed Ford’s cancer diagnosis to the media.
“My brother has been diagnosed with cancer and I can't begin to share how devastating this has been for Rob and our family,” the statement said.
“He is an incredible person, husband, father, brother and son and he remains upbeat and determined to fight this.”
Mayoral candidate John Tory, who had harsh words for Doug Ford last week when he entered his name to the mayoral race at the last minute, took a softer approach Wednesday afternoon, asking Torontonians to take a moment to pray for Rob Ford and keep his family in their thoughts.
“If Torontonians know one thing about their Mayor it is that he is a fighter. Now that he is in the fight of his life I know all Torontonians are pulling for him,” Tory said.
“I urge all Torontonians to say a prayer or summon a kind thought for our Mayor and the entire Ford family tonight, and in the coming days and weeks.”
Olivia Chow, a cancer survivor who is also running for mayor, told reporters she wore yellow to symbolize the daffodil logo of the Canadian Cancer Society.
“The colour of hope,” she said.
Chow, whose late husband Jack Layton also suffered from cancer, said she has faith in the advancements made in cancer care.
“I have been doing quite a lot of fundraisers for cancer and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and I know that the treatment has been very advanced which means that it can offer a lot of hope to people that have cancer,” she said.
She too encouraged Torontonians to keep the mayor in their thoughts.
“I hope the Ford family can feel the warmth that envelopes them right now,” she said. “I know Rob Ford is strong. He is a fighter.”
Many of his colleagues on council paid tribute to the mayor’s determined and stubborn approach to fighting the odds.
“Those who know Rob, know that he never backs down from a tough fight. Like every challenge he takes on, I know he will fight until he wins,” Deputy Norm Kelly said.
Karen Stintz, who famously sparred with Ford while she was the chair of the TTC, took to Twitter to send the Ford family a message of hope.
“Rob Ford is a fighter and I am confident he will fight the disease and get better for his kids,” Stintz wrote.
The well wishes extended past Ford’s colleagues on council.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper released a statement to the media expressing his remorse.
“I was deeply saddened today to learn that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has been diagnosed with a rare type of cancer and that he will have to undergo chemotherapy,” Harper said. “We wish him a speedy and complete recovery and are certain that he will take on this fight with all of his characteristic tenacity and energy.”
The news conference was watched closely, garnering attention from major media outlets around the world.
Rob Ford became a household name in May 2013 when a video surfaced showing him smoking from a crack pipe. Ford completed a stint in rehab this past summer and was determined to run for reelection until last Wednesday when doctors found a tumour in his abdomen.
Doctors said today that he is suffering from a rare form of cancer that is developed in fat cells known as pleomorphic liposarcoma.
