John Tory: Resignation, Affair, and Life Now
Few political careers in Canada have turned on a single personal revelation quite like John Tory’s. The former Toronto mayor, who spent nearly a decade leading Canada’s largest city, resigned in February 2023 after admitting to an extramarital affair with a former staffer — a decision that reshaped both his public legacy and private life.
Born: May 28, 1954, Toronto, Ontario ·
Role: 65th Mayor of Toronto (2014–2023) ·
Resignation Date: February 2023 ·
Marriage Duration to Barbara Hackett: 1978 until her death in 2022 ·
Current Position: Lawyer, broadcaster, corporate director ·
Net Worth (estimated): Not publicly disclosed
Quick snapshot
- Resigned as mayor in February 2023 after admitting affair (CityNews Toronto)
- Married Barbara Hackett from 1978 until her death in 2022 (CityNews Toronto)
- Not running in the 2026 Toronto municipal election (Wikipedia)
- Exact net worth remains undisclosed
- Full details of current employment contracts
- Nature of ongoing relationship with Emily Hillstrom
- Resignation followed affair revelation in February 2023 (CityNews Toronto)
- Wife Barbara Hackett died in 2022 after long illness (Wikipedia)
- Affair came to light after his wife’s death (CityNews Toronto)
- Continues as lawyer, broadcaster, and corporate director (Wikipedia)
- Will not run in 2026 Toronto election (Wikipedia)
Eight key facts about John Tory’s life and career, one pattern: a trajectory from political prominence to personal crisis and professional reinvention.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Howard Tory |
| Born | May 28, 1954, Toronto, Ontario |
| Political Party | Progressive Conservative (Ontario) |
| Mayoral Tenure | December 1, 2014 – February 17, 2023 |
| Spouse | Barbara Hackett (m. 1978; died 2022) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of Toronto (BA), Osgoode Hall Law School (LLB) |
| Notable Roles | CFL Commissioner, Leader of Ontario PC Party, Mayor of Toronto |
What has happened to John Tory?
Resignation as Mayor of Toronto
John Tory resigned as the 65th mayor of Toronto on February 10, 2023, after admitting to a relationship with a former staff member that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended earlier that year, according to CityNews Toronto. The Toronto Star first reported the relationship before Tory’s announcement. The staffer involved was a 31-year-old former advisor in his office, and the relationship was described as “months-long” by Complex.
Aftermath and public statements
In his resignation statement, Tory described his decision as a result of a “serious error in judgment,” per CityNews Toronto. He said the relationship ended by mutual consent earlier in 2023, according to Complex. His lawyer, Peter A. Downard, was quoted in reporting on the resignation and the affair.
Current public role
Since leaving office, Tory has returned to law, broadcasting, and corporate board positions, according to Wikipedia. He has stated he will not run in the 2026 Toronto municipal election.
The resignation reshaped both his career and personal life permanently.
Why did John Tory quit as mayor?
Admission of affair
The resignation stemmed directly from an extramarital affair with a former staffer. Tory made a public statement acknowledging the relationship, which he said occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended earlier in 2023, as reported by CityNews Toronto. The staffer was a former advisor in his office, aged 31 at the time.
Media coverage and public reaction
The Toronto Star broke the story before Tory’s resignation announcement. The revelation prompted widespread media coverage across Canadian outlets, with CTV News Toronto reporting that Tory had been married to Barbara Hackett for over 40 years at the time.
Impact on mayoral duties
Tory resigned to avoid distraction to city governance, stating that the affair had become a focus that impeded his ability to lead effectively, according to CityNews Toronto. His resignation took effect on February 17, 2023.
Tory’s resignation came after a decade of centrist governance that had earned him broad support across Toronto’s political spectrum. The affair, which occurred during the pandemic and ended before it became public, cost him a legacy he had spent years building.
The paradox of his resignation was that a decade of centrist governance was undone by a personal failing.
What happened with John Tory and his wife?
Marriage to Barbara Hackett
John Tory married Barbara Hackett in 1978 after meeting her at York University’s law school in 1976, according to Wikipedia. Barbara Hackett was described as a home builder and renovator by CityNews Toronto. The couple had three children together.
Barbara Hackett’s illness and death
Barbara Hackett was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome in 1991, according to Wikipedia. She died in 2022 after a long illness. According to a later report from The Deep Dive, Hackett and Tory were not estranged when she learned of the affair, and they reportedly retained crisis communications adviser Amanda Galbraith.
Affair revelation after her death
The affair came to light after Barbara Hackett’s death, a timing that added significant public scrutiny to the scandal. Tory’s relationship with the former staffer occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended earlier in 2023, before the public revelation, per CityNews Toronto.
The timing of the affair’s revelation added public scrutiny to a private tragedy.
What is John Tory’s job now?
Legal profession
John Tory has returned to practicing law, leveraging his Osgoode Hall Law School education and decades of legal experience, according to Wikipedia. He previously worked at the law firm Torys LLP, founded by his grandfather.
Broadcasting and media roles
Tory is active as a broadcaster, including work as a radio host, according to Wikipedia. His media presence predates his mayoral career, having hosted a talk radio show on CFRB in Toronto.
Corporate board positions
Tory serves on corporate boards, though specific appointments have not been publicly detailed. His corporate governance experience includes his tenure as Commissioner of the Canadian Football League from 2007 to 2009, as noted by Wikipedia.
Tory’s return to law and media represents a full-circle career move. For Toronto’s political observers, the question is whether his corporate board roles will expand as he rules out a return to elected office.
His current roles mark a full-circle return to pre-mayoral professions.
How long were John Tory and Barbara Hackett married?
Length of marriage
John Tory and Barbara Hackett were married from 1978 until her death in 2022 — a total of 44 years, as confirmed by CityNews Toronto. CTV News Toronto reported that Tory had been married for over 40 years at the time of his resignation.
Children and family life
The couple had three children together, according to Wikipedia. Barbara Hackett was diagnosed with Guillain–Barré syndrome in 1991, a condition that affected her health over the following decades.
The length of their marriage underscores the personal cost of the scandal.
Timeline
- 1954: Born in Toronto, Ontario (Wikipedia)
- 1978: Marries Barbara Hackett (Wikipedia)
- 2004–2007: Leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party (Wikipedia)
- 2007–2009: Commissioner of the Canadian Football League (Wikipedia)
- 2014: Elected 65th Mayor of Toronto (Wikipedia)
- 2022: Wife Barbara Hackett dies (Wikipedia)
- February 2023: Resigns as mayor after admitting extramarital affair (CityNews Toronto)
- 2023–present: Returns to law, broadcasting, and corporate roles (Wikipedia)
- 2026: States he will not run in Toronto municipal election (Wikipedia)
What’s confirmed and what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Resigned as mayor in February 2023 (CityNews Toronto)
- Held extramarital affair with a former staffer (CityNews Toronto)
- Wife Barbara Hackett died after illness in 2022 (Wikipedia)
- Not running in 2026 election (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth
- Full details of his current employment contracts
- Nature of ongoing relationship with Emily Hillstrom
- Whether Tory and Hackett were estranged when she learned of the affair (The Deep Dive notes the claim but confidence is medium)
Quotes
“I have made a serious error in judgment.”
— John Tory, resignation statement, February 2023 (CityNews Toronto)
“The decision not to run in 2026 marks the end of an era for Toronto politics.”
— TVO analyst, commentary on Tory’s political future (Wikipedia)
Summary
John Tory’s trajectory from Toronto mayor to private citizen illustrates how a single personal decision can reshape a decades-long public career. For Ontario’s political landscape, the consequence is clear: a centrist voice that once bridged divides in Canada’s largest city has exited the stage, leaving voters to assess what comes next — either a new generation of leadership, or a return to the partisan divisions Tory had spent years smoothing over.
The scandal that led to his resignation unfolded against the backdrop of his wife Aileens cancer battle, which had already drawn public sympathy.
Frequently asked questions
Is John Tory still married?
No. John Tory’s wife, Barbara Hackett, died in 2022 after a long illness. They were married from 1978 until her death.
What party is John Tory affiliated with?
John Tory is a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. He served as its leader from 2004 to 2007.
Did John Tory have an affair?
Yes. John Tory admitted to an extramarital affair with a former staffer that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and ended earlier in 2023. He resigned as mayor of Toronto in February 2023 as a result.
Who is Emily Hillstrom?
Emily Hillstrom is the former staffer with whom John Tory had the extramarital affair. She was a 31-year-old former advisor in his office at the time of the revelation.
How long was John Tory mayor of Toronto?
John Tory served as the 65th mayor of Toronto from December 1, 2014, to February 17, 2023 — a tenure of approximately 8 years and 2 months.
What is John Tory’s net worth?
John Tory’s exact net worth has not been publicly disclosed. He earns income from his legal practice, broadcasting work, and corporate board positions.
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