Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • Local Government

Mayor of Toronto

The mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and the chief executive officer of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

The mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and chief executive officer of the municipal government. Olivia Chow has held the office since July 12, 2023.

What it is

The mayor is the city’s chief elected official, responsible for leading council and representing the municipal government. The office is part of Toronto’s local government structure and includes both ceremonial and administrative duties.

Selection and term

Toronto’s mayor is elected directly by voters in citywide elections held every four years. There are no term limits, and the officeholder is styled His or Her Worship. The next regular election is scheduled for October 26, 2026.

Recent mayors

John Tory served from 2014 to 2023 before resigning. Olivia Chow won the resulting 2023 by-election. Rob Ford, Toronto’s 64th mayor, served from 2010 to 2014 and remained in office after a conflict-of-interest ruling against him was stayed on appeal.

In short

  • Olivia Chow is the 66th mayor of Toronto, sworn in July 12, 2023.
  • Mayoral elections are held every four years; next is October 26, 2026.
  • Rob Ford remained in office after a conflict-of-interest ruling was stayed on appeal.
  • The mayor chairs Toronto City Council ex officio.
Canadian angle

Toronto is Canada’s largest city, so the mayor’s office is one of the most prominent municipal leadership roles in the country.

Quick questions

Who is the mayor of Toronto?
The current mayor of Toronto is Olivia Chow, who took office on July 12, 2023.
When is the next Toronto mayoral election?
The next Toronto mayoral election is scheduled for October 26, 2026.
What happened to Rob Ford?
Rob Ford was Toronto’s 64th mayor. He lost a conflict-of-interest case in 2012, but the ruling was stayed on appeal, allowing him to remain in office. He later died in 2016.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor_of_Toronto
    Supports: Office description, current incumbent, election cycle, style, and historical notes on Rob Ford and the office.
  2. City of Toronto — https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/council/office-of-the-mayor/about-mayor/
    Supports: Official identification of Olivia Chow as mayor and background on her office.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivia_Chow
    Supports: Olivia Chow's birth date, office, and date of swearing-in.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Toronto_mayoral_election
    Supports: Scheduled date of the 2026 Toronto mayoral election and Chow's candidacy.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Toronto
    Supports: Chronology of Toronto mayors including John Tory, Rob Ford, and the 2023 succession.
  6. CBC News — https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/olivia-chow-declaration-office-toronto-mayor-1.6904283
    Supports: Chow taking office after the 2023 by-election and replacing John Tory.