Who is Oliva Chow? Olivia Chow, 66, said she will work to build a city that is “more caring, affordable and safe”.
Who is Oliva Chow?
At the age of 13, Chow left Hong Kong and moved to Canada with her family, settling into an apartment in St. James Town. It was here that she began to lay the groundwork for a life of political engagement and advocacy.
Chow’s introduction to politics came through her work with NDP MP Dan Heap, who served as a mentor and inspiration to her. From there, she went on to be elected as a school board trustee for the TDSB in 1985, a position she held for an impressive six years.
Throughout her career, Chow has been a passionate advocate for a wide range of causes and initiatives. In the 1980s, she supported the implementation of an anti-homophobia curriculum, recognizing the critical importance of creating safe and inclusive learning environments for all students. In the 1990s, she worked to bring nutrition programs to Toronto schools, recognizing the critical role that healthy eating plays in supporting academic success and overall well-being.
More recently, Chow has been a vocal opponent of exploitative immigration consultants, working tirelessly to protect the rights and dignity of those seeking to make a new life in Canada. Through her tireless advocacy and commitment to social justice, Chow has become a respected and influential voice in Canadian politics, inspiring countless people across the country to stand up for what they believe in and work towards a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Cnclusion Oliva Chow’s career
In both 1997 and 2004, Chow ran as an NDP candidate for Trinity-Spadina, but unfortunately lost both times to Liberal incumbent Tony Ianno. Despite these setbacks, Chow remained committed to her vision of creating positive change through political engagement and advocacy.
In 2006, Chow’s persistence paid off when she finally won the riding and was elected as a parliamentarian in the House of Commons as an NDP MP, joining her husband in federal politics. However, the joy of this victory was short-lived, as only a few months after the 2011 federal election, Layton passed away after a battle with cancer.
Despite the challenges that she faced in the wake of Layton’s passing, Chow remained resolute in her commitment to creating a better world through politics and activism. In 2014, she resigned her seat in the House of Commons and returned to her roots to run in the Toronto election, this time for the position of mayor. Although she faced tough competition from John Tory and now-Premier Doug Ford, she remained undaunted and ultimately came in third place, with Tory winning the race and beginning his first term in office.
Following her 2014 loss, Chow turned to one of her mentors, Marshall Ganz, a longtime organizer with the United Farm Workers who is credited with helping to shape Barack Obama‘s field operations during his 2008 U.S. presidential run. Chow took Ganz’s political leadership course at Harvard University and returned with a renewed sense of purpose and a powerful curriculum that would inspire the Institute for Change Leaders, the organization she founded in 2016.
After several years away from the political spotlight, Chow recently announced her bid for mayor of Toronto, marking her second run for the top job. As she embarks on this new chapter in her career, she remains committed to the principles of social justice, equity, and inclusion that have guided her throughout her life and career. Whether in politics, advocacy, or education, Olivia Chow continues to be a powerful force for positive change and an inspiration to countless people across the country and beyond.
Who is Olivia Chow? Olivia Chow Elected New Mayor of Toronto
Ms. Chow’s campaign for mayor was built upon a powerful promise: to create a Toronto that is caring, affordable, and safe for all its citizens. Through her tireless advocacy and commitment to social justice, she emerged as the frontrunner in a crowded field of 102 mayoral candidates, garnering more votes than any candidate in Toronto’s history.
“If you ever questioned your faith in a better future and what we can do with each other, for each other, tonight is your answer,” Ms. Chow said to a crowd of supporters during her victory speech.
In a stunning victory, Ms. Chow emerged triumphant in the mayoral race with an impressive 37.17 percent of the vote, cementing her place as the new leader of Toronto. Her nearest rival, Ana Bailão, who had received the endorsement of the city’s largest newspaper, The Toronto Star, trailed behind with just under 32 percent of the vote.
