Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford dies

Rob Ford, a man simultaneously adored by his fans and abhorred by his foes as his scandal-packed term as mayor of Canada’s largest city propelled him to international infamy, has died.

Ford, 46, succumbed to cancer Tuesday, 18 months after doctors discovered a softball-sized malignant tumour in his abdomen, his family announced in a statement.

“A dedicated man of the people, Councillor Ford spent his life serving the citizens of Toronto,” said a statement from his family. 

The diagnosis in September 2014 came less than a year after Ford confessed to smoking crack while in one of his “drunken stupors” and forced the mayor to withdraw from his bid for re-election in favour of running for councillor in his west-end ward.