On Friday night, Toronto’s mayor suddenly resigned after admitting to having a relationship with a staff member.
John Tory made the announcement at a media briefing several hours after The Toronto Star, which broke the story, questioned him about his relationship with a woman who was a former employee of his office.
According to Tory, the relationship started during the pandemic and “ended by mutual consent earlier this year.”
Tory branded the relationship “a severe lapse in judgement.”
“I am deeply sorry and apologize unreservedly to the people of Toronto and all those harmed by my actions, including my staff, my colleagues on city council and the public service for whom I have such respect. Most of all, I apologize to my wife Barb and to my family who I have let down more than anyone else,” he stated.
Who is John Tory’s wife Barbara Hackett, and children George, Chris, John, Susan?
Hackett is a home builder and a renovator.
John Tory met Barbara Hackett in 1976 while both were students at York University. They married in 1978. During a Narcity Toronto interview, the politician discussed their first meeting, saying: “We sat down next to each other totally by chance in a York University class 44 years ago. We had both come to the class with our respective boyfriend and girlfriend.
Tory had “long, red hair” when they first met, according to Hackett. The mayor of Toronto then revealed that his wife was the first to approach him: “Barb basically asked me out — to go for a beer at the grad pub. Knowing her, she [didn’t] have to muster up any courage. I, on the other hand, had to muster up some courage to accept. We sat together in the grad pub all afternoon, covering every topic there was to talk about.”
They recalled their first official date as being to see Equus at the Royal Alexandra Theater, followed by dinner at a King Street pasta restaurant.
On May 27, 1978, John Tory and Barbara Hackett exchanged vows in the Islington United Church. On a “very hot day,” they conducted a conventional wedding ceremony and held their reception at the Weston Golf Club.
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They have four children – George Tory, Chris Tory, John Tory and Susan Tory. They have five grandchildren who’s names are unknown, as per SportsKeeda.
Upon admitting to having an affair with a former staff member in January 2023, Toronto mayor John Tory announced his decision to resign from office.
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“It came at a time when Barb, my wife of 40-plus years, and I were enduring many lengthy periods apart while I carried out my responsibilities during the pandemic,” he stated.
