Rob Ford making headlines in hockey
Ex-mayor Rob Ford has been appointed to the Hockey Hall of Fame’s (HHOF) board of directors, a decision that falls in line with the majority of everything else involving Ford – controversial.
The appointment was not a decision made by the HHOF, rather a decision made by the City of Toronto. The board of directors has no say in the selection process for annual nominations, and is, instead, an illustration of the partnership the city holds with the prestigious hockey museum. The HHOF nominations, instead, come from a group of 18 members who are, for the majority, members of the media and already-inducted hall of famers who vote separately.
In turn, the city gets to swear in three representatives to the board, a committee made up of 18 individuals. In contrast, the National Hockey League (NHL) nominates seven. The process dates back to 1961 when the HHOF first opened at Exhibition Place, marking the beginning of the connection made between the NHL and the City of Toronto.
Ford, who is currently a city councilor and battling cancer, holds the decision to stay with the HHOF for as long as he so chooses after being appointed to the board. The HHOF, who has not released an official statement on the decision, does not have the power or authority to remove a director once appointed. In fact, the only way for Ford to be removed from the board is to resign himself, or have the City of Toronto (the official place of nomination) make the decision to remove him from the board altogether.
The ex-mayor insists his “experience in the hockey world” was the tell-all factor in the decision made by the City of Toronto. Ford also explained that his desire to promote the sport among children played an important role in the decision.
“When people call me, they know they’re getting someone that’s experienced,” Ford said in an interview with The Globe and Mail on April 4. “I’ve got season tickets to the Leafs, and I’m obsessed with hockey […], hockey’s my number one sport and I’m going to try to just keep pushing it.”
Ford also added that he grew up playing hockey, and he would do anything in order to support the game throughout the country.
Ford already attended his first meeting with the board on March 25, and explained that it his intention to attend as many as he can, really emphasizing his involvement.
“Some people like the prestige of it, I like the action.” Ford said. “What I don’t like is when people sign up and want to go to these boards and commissions, and they don’t show up.”
“I like rolling up my sleeves and showing up to meetings and getting it done.”