Toronto elects first mayor of Chinese descent

Olivia Chow has been elected mayor of Toronto, the largest and most populous city in Canada.

She is the first woman and first Chinese Canadian to lead the city.

In a race on Monday featuring 102 candidates, the progressive politician's victory ended more than 10 years of conservative rule at City Hall.

"Whether you voted for me or not, we are united in our love of this great city," Chow, 66, said in her victory speech on Monday evening. "I pledge to you I will dedicate myself to work tirelessly in building a city that's more caring, affordable and safe for everyone."

The by-election came about after former mayor John Tory admitted in February to having an "inappropriate relationship" with a former member of his staff.

Chow immigrated to Canada from Hong Kong with her parents at the age of 13 and struggled to adapt to a new environment. She sewed buttons onto jeans as a teenager to help her family, with her mother cleaning homes and her father unable to hold a steady job because of mental illness.

Chow started her political journey as a school board trustee in 1985.After holding the position for six years, she joined her late husband Jack Layton — who later became the federal New Democratic Party, or NDP, leader — as a city councilor for Toronto in 1992. She was first elected to the House of Commons as a member of Parliament in 2006.

Layton got into federal politics from the Toronto City Council and led the NDP to unprecedented opposition status in 2011 in the "orange crush" before his sudden death from cancer the same year.

In 2014, Chow ran against John Tory and current Ontario Premier Doug Ford in the Toronto election, finishing third.

"People know who I am, people know my values," she told Canadian media in an interview during the campaign.

Chow said her many years of experience and continuing engagement with people in the city allowed her to speak out confidently on issues.

The top issues facing Toronto residents are concerns about housing affordability, cost of living, crime and safety, spending taxpayers' money wisely, and public transit.

Former mayor Tory offered his "sincere congratulations" to Chow on Twitter late on Monday evening.

"She brings a great deal of experience in the public life of our city and our country, and I know that will serve her well as Mayor," he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also congratulated Chow, saying he is "looking forward to working together to deliver results for Torontonians".