Item - 2022.RM47.6

Various presentations, introductions and announcements were made to City Council on July 19, 20, 21 and 22, 2022.

July 19, 2022

Speaker Nunziata, during the morning session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Tory to address City Council.

Mayor Tory recognized Speaker Nunziata and staff who kept the meetings goings during the last four years, especially during the pandemic. Mayor Tory thanked the technical staff, the unsung heroes, who made remote meetings possible and ensured that the public was able to continue to participate in the meetings.  Mayor Tory also thanked Members of Council for their dedication and commitment these past four years and for working together during the pandemic.  Mayor Tory remarked on the difficult job Speaker Nunziata had during the pandemic, from managing fully remote meetings and then hybrid meetings and thanked Speaker Nunziata for her efforts.  Mayor Tory spoke of the important role the City Clerk's staff have and play during the meetings as well as the public service.

Mayor Tory recognized those Members of Council who were not seeking re-election and those Members who had left City Hall for other endeavours.   Mayor Tory acknowledged Deputy Mayor Denzil  Minnan-Wong, Councillor Ana Bailão and  Councillor John Filion.  Mayor Tory spoke of Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong's 28 years of service, the last eight years as the Deputy Mayor, and of Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong's commitment to residents of North York, his efforts to keep taxes low and find efficiencies in government.  Mayor Tory spoke of Councillor Bailão's dedication to the residents of Davenport,  her role as champion for affordable housing  and her work as Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee.  Mayor Tory spoke of Councillor Filion's 40 years of service to the residents of North York and of his efforts to spearhead changes and initiatives that have benefitted the residents of Toronto.    

Mayor Tory also spoke of  Kristyn Wong-Tam and Michael Ford, former Members of Council, who were elected to Provincial Parliament and acknowledged their efforts to advance the interests of the residents of Toronto.

Mayor Tory thanked Members of Council for working together in a constructive way during the last four years and remarked on the pride that Members should take in the management of the pandemic.

Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong addressed City Council and thanked his constituents,  Mayor Tory for appointing him as Deputy Mayor, noting that it was a privilege to serve in that capacity, and Members of Council for their friendship and advice.

Councillor Bailão addressed City Council and thanked the people of Davenport, the civil service for their work, her colleagues for sharing their knowledge, the Mayor for his efforts the last eight years on housing, her team, supporters and her family.

Councillor Filion addressed City Council and thanked his colleagues on Council, the Mayor for the climate he created at City Hall, his office staff, City staff, the City Clerk's staff who are the best all the time every year, and the people of Willowdale.

Councillor Pasternak, during the morning session of the meeting, welcomed Supernaturalz, a Toronto-based break dance crew, who were present in the Chamber. 

Speaker Nunziata, during the afternoon session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Tory to recognize City Manager, Chris Murray.  Mayor Tory acknowledged the departure of Chris Murray as City Manager and that Members are sad to see him leave. Mayor Tory thanked Mr. Murray for his leadership, commitment and dedication, and noted that his collegiality made a difference. Mayor Tory remarked that Chris Murray worked every day to build public trust and confidence in government, and showed respect to the public service by going out and experiencing the jobs of the front line staff.  Mayor Tory spoke of Mr. Murray's efforts in equity and inclusion as well as his support for the United Way. Mayor Tory, on behalf of Members of Council, thanked Chris Murray for his service to the City of Toronto, wished him well in his future endeavours and presented him with a scroll.  Chris Murray thanked Mayor Tory for his kind words.  Mr. Murray commented that Members have the most impossible job.  Chris Murray thanked  the Senior Leadership Team, staff in the City Manager's Office, the Corporate Leadership Team, Managers, Supervisors, front line staff, the Unions and his family. Chris Murray remarked that he was proud of the accomplishments of the public service.

Councillor Perruzza during the afternoon session of the meeting, welcomed the Seneca @ York students enrolled in Seneca's Government Relations Certificate Program, who were present in the Chamber.

July 20, 2022

Speaker Nunziata, during the morning session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Tory to recognize Marilyn Toft, Manager of City Council, Special Committees and By-laws on her retirement from the City. Mayor Tory said that it was an honour to acknowledge Ms. Toft's 33 years of dedicated and impeccable service to the City. Mayor Tory remarked that Marilyn Toft is the backbone of Council operations and leads her team in the monthly Council meetings. Mayor Tory advised Members of Council that Ms. Toft is the biggest publisher at the City having signed off on over 320 sets of agendas, over 320 sets of minutes and over 35,000 by-laws and you would not find one error in those records. Mayor Tory noted that Marilyn Toft is the living knowledge base of Council and has become a trusted confidant and procedural advisor to Members of Council, to her colleagues and to hundreds of officials.   Mayor Tory presented a scroll to Ms. Toft.  Mayor Tory called upon John Elvidge, City Clerk to address Member of Council. 

Mr. Elvidge said that there are three things Members of Council should know before Marilyn Toft retires: the first is that Marilyn Toft loves this great City. The second thing is that Marilyn Toft has been with Council for the highest of the highs, the lowest of the lows, for the 11 day meetings, for the 11 hour meetings and for the 11 minute meetings, and has been with Council through it all. And the third thing Members should know is that Marilyn Toft's prime directive is to help everyone do their part in the democratic process and Marilyn has mentored and trained so many staff over the years. John Elvidge requested, with Member indulgence, that Marilyn Toft address City Council. 

Marilyn Toft addressed City Council and thanked Mayor Tory for his kind words.  Ms. Toft also thanked City Clerk John Elvidge for his remarks and for joining the meeting remotely from Australia.  Ms. Toft remarked that she has met and worked with so many wonderful people at the City during her career, and that everyone has a common goal - we love this City and want to be part of something special, and that this is something special.  Ms. Toft paid tribute to the staff in the City Clerk's Office and thanked Deputy City Clerk Kelly McCarthy, the City Clerk's management team, her own team and all the City Clerk's staff she has worked with - her family at work. Ms. Toft also thanked Speaker Nunziata, Mayor Tory and Members of Council, past and present, and said that it was a privilege to work with them. Ms. Toft recognized her husband and daughters who were present in the Chamber and thanked them for their love and support. Kelly McCarthy, Deputy City Clerk, on behalf of the City Clerk's Office thanked Marilyn Toft and presented her with flowers.

Speaker Nunziata thanked Marilyn Toft for her support over the years.

Speaker Nunziata, during the afternoon session of the meeting, called upon Mayor Tory to address City Council to recognize Beverly Romeo-Beeler, Auditor General. Mayor Tory thanked Ms. Romeo-Beeler and recognized the incredible work she and her team have accomplished during her tenure at the City.  Mayor Tory spoke of the huge respect that Members have for Beverly Romeo-Beeler in the way she and her team go about their work.  Mayor Tory commented that Beverly Romeo-Beeler has been thorough, professional and set the highest of standards for good accountable government, and publicized her findings in a way that was balanced and measured.  Mayor Tory remarked that under Ms. Romeo-Beeler's leadership, her office produced over 100 audit reports, produced over 1,000 recommendations and investigated over 5,000 complaints, and the recommendations that have been put forward have saved the City over a half a billion dollars.   Mayor Tory presented a scroll to Beverly Romeo-Beeler.  Ms. Romeo-Beeler addressed City Council and thanked Mayor Tory for his remarks.  Beverly Romeo-Beeler remarked that the work could not be done without the support of pillars and those pillars are Members of Council, the City Manager, the Chair and Vice Chair of the Audit Committee, the public service, fellow Accountability Officers and her entire staff.  Ms. Romeo-Beeler thanked her husband and daughter for their support.  Beverly Romeo-Beeler thanked Members of Council and said that it was an honour to serve.  Tara Anderson, Assistant Auditor General and Ina Chan, Deputy Auditor General, on behalf of the staff of the Auditor General's Office, presented flowers to Ms. Romeo-Beeler.

Councillor Holyday addressed City Council and said that he has had the privilege of serving on the Audit Committee for 8 years and thanked Beverly Romeo-Beeler for all that she has done and all that she taught him on how the City works. Councillor Holyday remarked that during her time at the City, Ms. Romeo-Beeler maintained her independence, said the things that needed to be said and has been the agent of change.  Councillor Holyday thanked Beverly Romeo-Beeler for what she has done for the City, for what she has done for City Council, for what she had done to help maintain confidence in such a complex system and for being the catalyst of change.

Councillor Filion addressed City Council and said that has been fortunate to work with Beverly Romeo-Beeler over the last few years.  Councillor Filion remarked that Ms. Romeo-Beeler is one part Sherlock Holmes, one part Columbo and one part coal miner's daughter.  Councillor Filion advised Members of Council of the "mummy tummy" rule that Beverly Romeo-Beeler taught him - that if your tummy doesn't feel right and your mummy would like not like it, there might be something wrong with it. Councillor Filion thank Ms. Romeo-Beeler for her service.

July 21, 2022

Councillor Perruzza, during the afternoon session of the meeting, welcomed his children who were present in the Chamber.

Councillor Thompson, during the afternoon session of the meeting, welcomed Donovan Williams, a Member of the Jamaican Parliament, who was present in the Chamber.