Toronto's embattled mayor insists he didn't crash the Toronto Region Board of Trade's swanky annual dinner Monday night, even though the organization says he wasn't invited.

The gala event brings Toronto's business and political leaders together, and it appears Ford showed up despite his office being told that he wasn't welcome.

Ford apparently surprised organizers when he arrived and they found a seat for him at the back of the room at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Ford left a short time after Toronto Region Board of Trade president and CEO Carol Wilding ripped into him during her speech to the crowd of about 1,500 people.

Without naming the mayor, Wilding said ongoing "distractions" are bringing negative publicity to the city.

Wilding called for better political leadership at city hall and she told the crowd of power brokers it's time to leave the "distractions" behind. Her speech drew a round of applause.

Last November, Wilding called on the mayor to step down after he admitted to smoking crack cocaine and a court document exposed allegations of outrageous behaviour by Ford.

At the height of the scandal, city council voted unanimously to strip the mayor of key powers and transfer them to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly.

At Monday's dinner, the seat normally reserved for Toronto's mayor was occupied by Kelly and the official program displayed welcome messages from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Kathleen Wynne and Kelly, not Ford.

Event organizers insist Kelly was invited instead of Ford, but the mayor sent a tweet thanking Wilding for the "personal invite."

The tweet was accompanied by a photo of a letter of invitation signed by Wilding and dated last Nov. 11.

A spokesperson for the board told CP24 reporter Katie Simpson if Ford received the letter it was sent to him by mistake.

The mayor's office was told by telephone Ford was not invited and organizers did not receive an RSVP from Ford's office, the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, Coun. Doug Ford, the mayor's brother, lashed out at Wilding and suggested fellow Toronto Region Board of Trade members don't share her values.

"She's turning this into a little political game of hers," Doug Ford told reporters at city hall. "Maybe (the board) should review their leadership when it comes up again."

The councillor accused Wilding of being at odds with the mayor because of his fiscal record.

Doug Ford backed up his brother's claim that he was personally invited to the event by Wilding.

With files from CP24 reporter Katie Simpson