Presentations, Introductions and Announcements

Mayor Tory spoke of Susan Opler's commitment and dedication to public service over her term as Ombudsman. The Mayor noted that when Susan came to the role in 2016, she had decades of experience as a lawyer, adjudicator, mediator and as an educator, and all of those things proved useful in the role of Toronto's Ombudsman. Mayor Tory highlighted Susan's leadership in publicly rebranding the Office of the Ombudsman, her work investigating the respite homes in Toronto and her investigations on behalf of Toronto Transit Commission users and Toronto Community Housing Corporation tenants. Mayor Tory sincerely thanked Susan Opler the passion and dedication that she has shown as Ombudsman and for her role in helping so many Torontonians seek fairness and justice. Susan Opler, Ombudsman addressed City Council and thanked Mayor Tory for his kind remarks. The Ombudsman described the work her Office undertook to rebrand and expand as Ombudsman Toronto, with the tag-line Listening, Investigating, and Improving City Services. Susan Opler remarked that, over her five year term, Ombudsman Toronto handled close to ten thousand public complaints and concerns with the annual number of complaints increasing by fifty seven percent over five years. The Ombudsman thanked Members of Council for their service, her fellow Accountability Officers for their work, the City Clerk's and City Manager's Office for their support, the City's Leadership, the Toronto Public Service and colleagues at the Office of the Ombudsman. Susan Opler thanked her family and friends for their support and encouragement and stated that serving as Ombudsman was the highlight of her thirty five year legal career. Mayor Tory, during the afternoon session of the meeting, recognized Amber Caterer Walsh on receiving the 2021 CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association) Rhonda Davies Volunteer of the Year award, a national award recognizing volunteer service, in this case given to the therapeutic horseback riding community. Amber is a member of CARD, the Community Association for Riders with Disabilities and Mayor Tory congratulated Amber Caterer Walsh and thanked the Canadian Association of Riders with Disabilities for their contributions and for providing services to improve the lives of those with differing abilities in our community. Mayor Tory, during the afternoon session of the meeting, recognized Councillor Crawford and wished him a happy birthday. Councillor Pasternak, during the afternoon session of the meeting, recognized Amber Caterer Walsh on receiving the 2021 CanTRA (Canadian Therapeutic Riding Association) Rhonda Davies Volunteer of the Year, for all of Canada. Councillor Pasternak noted that York Centre is home to G. Ross Lord Park which contains riding stables, operated by CARD, the Community Association for Riders with Disabilities and Amber Caterer Walsh has contributed over 33 years of volunteer service to the Community Association for Riders with Disabilities.