A handful of Toronto city councillors wore pink on Wednesday, in an apparent protest of hockey personality Don Cherry's speech the new mayor's swearing-in ceremony in which Cherry referred to Rob Ford's opposition as "left-wing pinkos."

Cherry, wearing a bright floral-patterned pink suit, appeared at the swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday as Ford's invited guest and presented him with the chain of office.

"I'm wearing pink for all the pinkos out there who ride bicycles and everything," Cherry said on Tuesday.

He later added that "left-wing pinkos" who oppose Ford will "scrape the bottom of the barrel."

Several councillors attending a meeting at City Hall Wednesday morning wearing various shades of pink to signify their disappointment in the outburst.

Councillors Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul's West) and Ana Bailao (Ward 18, Davenport) work pink scarves while Janet Davis (Ward 31, Beaches-East York) wore a pink suit jacket.

Davis said a number of councillors were offended by the speech, which referred to Ford opponents as "left-wing pinkos." Swearing-in ceremonies are supposed to be official affairs, she said.

"It was embarrassing. The language in the speech of our guest speaker was inappropriate and unacceptable. It is language that, if any councillor used them on the floor of council they would be asked to withdraw those remarks and give an apology," Davis told CTV Toronto.

"It is important that if we express our view that the council chambers is a place where we act with decorum."

Cherry, a former NHL coach, concluded his speech by saying, "now put that in your pipe, you left-wing kooks."

In response to Cherry's "pinkos" comments, Ford told reporters he did not know what was going to be said.

"Don's well-known. He's well-respected throughout Canada -- and what you see is what you get," the new mayor said on Tuesday.

The council session will resume Wednesday afternoon, during which it is expected more councillors will be dressed in pink.