Ford’s family pushed city for an open casket
Rob Ford’s family requested a “Ford Nation” flag in the heart of city hall and pushed for an open casket in the lead up to the former mayor lying in repose at the public building in March.
But city staff co-ordinating the unprecedented civic memorial had to curb those requests, according to emails obtained by the Star through a freedom of information request.
Ford’s death on March 22 — announced by email from his chief of staff Dan Jacobs at 11:03 a.m. — came after days of his family being at his side at Mount Sinai Hospital. Ford was receiving treatment for a rare and aggressive cancer after earlier undergoing surgery to remove a tumour.
At 11:38 a.m., Jacobs emailed the city’s clerk, Ulli Watkiss.
“Hi Ulli, the family are requesting that the Councillor lie in state Monday and Tuesday.”
The request, while anticipated from Ford’s family, put staff and Mayor John Tory on the spot.
While there was precedent for a city-organized public mourning for two mayors who died in office in1936 and1963, it had never been afforded a former mayor.
With Tory’s blessing, the city began arranging for Ford to lie in repose, starting on Easter Monday, which required opening city hall when it is typically closed.
On March 23, the day after Ford’s death, the city’s chief of protocol Barbara Sullivan responded to requests from the Ford family for the public viewing.
While some of the arrangements were basic — “limited and discreet floral arrangements may be placed by the casket” — other requests challenged staff.
“A Ford Nation flag will not be permitted in the set up for the lying in repose at city hall,” Sullivan told Ford’s senior staffer Jacobs.
And: “An open casket is not permitted at city hall,” Sullivan said, adding she had consulted with Heritage Canada, which organizes state funerals federally, and that it would not be appropriate.
“The location is a public building, open to people who are doing city business. Those people may not have (necessarily) chosen to attend the visitation. There is also a child care facility on the main floor of city hall and this would be very disturbing to the children.” That didn’t satisfy the family. “Dan has come back to me regarding the open casket,” Sullivan said in a subsequent email to the city clerk and the mayor’s office the following day, saying Jacobs was requesting the casket be opened on at least one of the two days.
“I declined the request,” she reported.
What about just when family received dignitaries? “I declined this as well.” Sullivan said she recommended the family provide “a large portrait or photo” to be placed next to the casket as an alternative.
Jacobs, responding to the Star in an email, said the requests “were made on behalf of the family.”
Doug Ford, a one-time councillor who ran against Tory for mayor when his brother fell ill, told CP24’s Stephen LeDrew the next day that “Rob would love to be with the people . . . He wanted an open casket and so does the family, but since it’s in a public building, they didn’t want that. And I understand what protocol was saying.”
When the public first started lining up in city hall’s rotunda the next week, there was no open casket or Ford Nation flag. Ford’s official photo as mayor was set up near the casket. Following the funeral, there was a reception at the Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke where supporters posed with a Ford Nation flag.
For a week, interviews of and eulogies by his family focused heavily on Ford’s legacy in the city, with little mention of his substance abuse, controversial conduct or failed policies.
“And don’t worry, Ford Nation will continue, will continue respecting the taxpayers,” Doug Ford told the crowd at St. James Cathedral.
Council will declare Ford’s Ward 2 Etobicoke North seat vacant this week at a regular meeting that begins Tuesday. They must also decide whether to hold a byelection to fill the chair or appoint someone.
The Fords have said either Doug or nephew Michael Ford, currently a Toronto District School Board Trustee, will seek to represent the ward whether it is filled by appointment or byelection.