Hunter Walker
Mission Accomplished
It is my honor to tell you that the Golden Duke trophy was delivered Friday afternoon.
Following our many unsuccessful efforts to find Mayor Rob Ford and present him with the Golden Duke award for the best scandal of 2013, TPM’s Toronto delegation gave the trophy to Ford’s brother, Councillor Doug Ford, who promised he would pass the award along to his sibling.
Robbie, Can You Hear Me?
“Mayor Ford, I have an award for you!” I shouted as Rob Ford stood in
his glass-walled office at Toronto City Hall Friday morning. “Would
you like to come get your Golden Duke?”
My first attempt to present Ford with TPM’s Golden Duke award for the
best scandal of 2013 had come a few minutes earlier as he disembarked an
elevator and entered his office ahead of a council meeting. A team of
burly bodyguards and lines of velvet ropes kept a crowd of reporters
who shouted questions away from the mayor.
“Mayor Ford, I have an award for you,” I had called out as he and his
entourage walked past, adding, “It’s for your scandal.”
Live From Toronto
I am coming to you live from the elevator in front of the mayor’s
office. We just attempted to hand Mayor Rob Ford the Duke award as he
disembarked surrounded by security. He did not respond. He must not
have seen the beautiful statue. We are waiting here for him to leave
again.
I am proud to report that we were joined by two TPM readers, Ed and
Greg. We also gave some interviews to the Canadian media, who are
clearly excited about the Duke awards.
Dinner and Drinks With Rob Ford
After a day spent in search of embattled Mayor Rob Ford, TPM’s Toronto delegation may have found his soul — in a steakhouse.
This tale begins with the traditional Canadian staple of poutine, a combination of french fries, cheese curds, and gravy that based on police documents, is a favorite of Ford’s. Knowing Ford’s fondness for poutine, when I spotted a food truck serving the dish in front of City Hall Thursday evening, I knew I had to investigate.
TPM Visits the Rob Ford Crack House
This evening, the TPM Toronto delegation toured crucial locations from
Rob Ford’s life and works.
We began by driving to his house in the suburban neighborhood of Etobicoke in the hopes we might see the mayor and be able to present him with his Golden Duke award. We did not have a close encounter of the Mayor Ford kind, but we did notice there was a branch of Canada’s beloved coffee, pastry, and breakfast chain Tim Horton’s in a gas station a block or so from his house. This seemed like a place Mayor Ford might frequent so we stopped in.