Toronto's Pride Week officially got underway with a flag-raising at city hall Monday afternoon, but the event was overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of Mayor Rob Ford.
More than 200 people gathered to celebrate as a rainbow flag ran up the flag pole at Nathan Phillips Square shortly after noon, with several councillors and prominent citizens in attendance.
But many in the gathered crowd were more focused on who wasn't at the ceremony. Mayor Ford elected not to attend the event, the traditional start to a week celebrating Toronto's gay and lesbian community.
Ford appointed Coun. Frances Nunziata as his representative at the flag raising.
But as Nunziata read an official proclamation marking the occasion several people in the gathered crowd demanded to see the mayor.
"Bring out the mayor. It's the mayor's job" one man screamed, while others chanted and waved placards denouncing Ford's absence.
"I think there are people here who would like me to be here and read the proclamation," Nunziata chided the crowd.
The proclamation began with "I, Mayor Rob Ford," eliciting more boos from some in attendance.
Only cheers came from the crowd when the flag was finally raised.
Ford later tweeted that he had met with Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke during the flag ceremony.
Burke will march in Sunday's Pride Parade in honour of his late son, who went public with his homosexuality in 2010 shortly before he was killed in a car accident.
Later Monday afternoon, Ford appeared at city hall wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey and said his meeting with Burke was "confidential."
When asked if he would appear at any Pride events, Ford said he would take it "one day at a time."
Former Toronto mayor Barbara Hall, the first elected official to walk in the Pride parade, was at the flag ceremony but declined to comment on reasons behind Ford's absence.
"I'm here because this is an important day and an important time for the city," she told CP24.
"I hope over the course of Pride, His Worship will find a way to send a strong message."
Ford stirred controversy last week when he announced he would not be attending any Pride events, most notably next Sunday's Pride Parade – an event in which the city's mayor traditionally marches.
Ford says a family tradition to spend Canada Day at the cottage will keep him from attending the parade.
Former mayors Barbara Hall, Mel Lastman and David Miller maintained the tradition of marching in the parade by appearing at the event during their tenures.
Pride events started June 24 and proceed until the parade on July 3. The event is in its 31st year and is one of Toronto's largest tourist draws, raising nearly $100 million annually.
Andrew Weir, a spokesman for Tourism Toronto, says Pride Week is responsible for filling about 5,000 hotel rooms a night packing bars, restaurants and other tourist draws over the course of the 10-day event.
Along Church Street, Toronto's gay neighbourhood, Pride Week is already in full swing.
Andrew Dunn, the manager of the Churchmouse and Firkin Pub, at Maitland Street, says the event usually doubles or triples the bar's usual rate of business.
"The numbers are big. Everybody comes from all over North America," he told CTV Toronto.
With reports from CTV Toronto's Michelle Dube and Naomi Parness
