Renata Ford, the widow of former Toronto mayor Rob Ford, has died at the age of 55, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced Monday evening.
In a statement, Premier Doug Ford paid tribute to his sister-in-law and expressed condolences to her two children, Stephanie and Doug.
“My heart breaks for Stephanie and Dougie,” the premier said. “They’ve been through so much at such young ages, and losing their mom is incredibly painful. Our whole family is hurting for them. We ask that people respect their privacy during this very difficult time.”
Renata Ford was the mother of two children and the aunt of Michael Ford, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism and former Toronto city councillor.
Mark Towhey, who served as chief of staff to Rob Ford during his mayoralty, also shared his condolences, saying his thoughts were with Stephanie and Doug during this difficult time. The Ontario Liberal Party also expressed sympathy to the Ford family.
Renata Ford was widely known for supporting her late husband’s political career. During Rob Ford’s tenure as Toronto mayor from 2010 to 2014, she largely remained out of the spotlight while assisting with constituency outreach, community events, and organizing the annual Ford Fest.
Following Rob Ford’s death in 2016 after a battle with cancer, Renata remained active in public life. She ran as the People’s Party of Canada candidate in Etobicoke North during the 2019 federal election, finishing fourth. Her campaign highlighted her longstanding involvement in Rob Ford’s political career and community engagement.
She also made headlines after pleading guilty in 2018 to impaired driving stemming from a 2016 incident. She received a fine, three years of probation, and was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.
In 2019, Renata Ford launched a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Premier Doug Ford over the handling of Rob Ford’s estate, alleging financial harm to herself and her children. Premier Ford denied the allegations, stating at the time that his family had always supported Renata and her children.
Renata Ford’s death marks another chapter of loss for one of Toronto’s most well-known political families. No further details regarding the cause of death or funeral arrangements have been released.
