Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow Criticized for Absence at Vigil Commemorating October 7 Attack

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has issued an apology for her absence at a major vigil earlier this week, commemorating one year since the October 7 terrorist attack that affected the city’s Jewish community. Despite her apology, event organizers have expressed dissatisfaction with her explanations.

“I really regret not being able to be there. I wanted to mourn with the Jewish community on the tragic loss of lives and the horrific things that have passed,” Chow stated in an interview with Newstalk 1010. Following the interview, she released a formal statement expressing sorrow for her absence.

According to event organizers, they attempted to contact the mayor’s office multiple times in advance but received no response. Chow later stated that her staff did not receive an invitation and that an investigation with IT services is underway to determine what went wrong.

The vigil, held near Bathurst Street and Finch Avenue in North York, saw attendance from prominent figures, including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, several Toronto city councillors, former mayor John Tory, and Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca.

Chow explained that she was preoccupied with discussions on bike lanes in The Kingsway area, which extended longer than anticipated, leaving her exhausted. “So I could have made phone calls and may have made it. I didn’t even know precisely what time the event was,” she admitted.

Despite Chow’s claims that her office was occupied with crucial projects, including a school nutrition program and the island airport runway extension, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) criticized her remarks. They labeled them as “embarrassing exercises in avoiding accountability,” noting that Chow had been sent three invitations, including one directly to her staff.

CIJA Ontario Vice President Michelle Stock shared that during their investigation, they discovered that “the Mayor’s office had unsubscribed and opted out of receiving our emails for the last seven months,” suggesting a possible cause for the communication breakdown.

Councilor James Pasternak stated that he personally inquired about the mayor’s attendance prior to the memorial and was told Chow was unsure. “As exhausting as discussing bike lanes may be for the Mayor, we assure her the Jewish community is more exhausted,” Stock remarked, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the community.

In her follow-up statement, Chow acknowledged the “deeply painful” nature of October 7 and affirmed her commitment to denouncing antisemitism and hate. She also mentioned the establishment of new communication lines with CIJA to prevent future miscommunications.

City Councilor Brad Bradford expressed his disappointment at Chow’s absence, underscoring that 364 days had passed since the attack, providing ample time to anticipate an anniversary vigil. Other councilors, including Josh Matlow, emphasized the importance of showing leadership and support to a community that has faced considerable trauma over the past year.