After winning with 269,372 votes, Olivia Chow was sworn into office on Wednesday as Toronto’s new mayor.

The 66th mayor of Toronto and former member of the House of Commons was sworn in at 11 a.m. with Toronto citizens both young and old present for her declaration of office.

She was led into the room by Young Creek Big Drum, a drumming group from the Wikwemikong Reserve, with a ceremonial performance.

The host for the event was actor Jean Yoon, star of Canadian sitcom Kim’s Convenience, who introduced the other speakers throughout the inauguration. Speakers included Elder Dr. Duke Redbird of Saugeen Ojibway Nation, Sandra Whiting, a community programmer and prominent member of Toronto's black community and Toronto Poet Laureate Lillian Allen.

“We have a saying in my country of Jamaica. As a Canadian of Jamaican heritage. The saying is ‘she is little, but she is tallawah.’ It means she is strong, she is mighty and she will be powerful,” says Whiting.

Chow enters office with a host of pressing issues affecting the people of Toronto. In her first speech as mayor she touched upon the rising cost of housing, the growing concerns of the TTC and budgetary issues.

“In the midst of a campaign that would determine the future of our city something interesting happened. We all found common cause in what we need to fix together…even in the face of those steep challenges people send a clear message, that change is not only possible but necessary,” says Chow.

Chow is the second female mayor in Toronto and the first person of colour to be elected for the position in Toronto history. She succeeds former mayor John Tory.

“We need more of their unity of purpose and action here in our city. It is what the people demand from all of us. Friends, colleagues and dignitaries. Thank you for joining us here today. It is such a privilege for someone like me to be standing here today and address you as your new mayor,” says Chow.

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