A look at Olivia Chow, seeking another stint as NDP member of Parliament

OTTAWA – Former New Democrat MP and failed Toronto mayoral hopeful Olivia Chow, currently a visiting professor at Ryerson University, is planning to run in the riding of Spadina-Fort York as she mounts a bid to return to federal politics under the NDP banner. Some personal background:

Born: March 24, 1957 in Hong Kong.

Education: Honours bachelor’s degree in fine art, University of Guelph.

Political career: Toronto school board trustee (1985-1991); Toronto city councillor (1991-2005); eight years as a New Democrat MP between 2006 and 2014; ran for Toronto mayor and lost in 2014; visiting professor at Ryerson University’s Faculty of Arts (2015).

Family: Widow of former NDP leader Jack Layton, a Toronto city councillor when he married the school board trustee in 1988. Layton died in August 2011. Chow has no children of her own, but maintains a close relationship with her stepchildren Mike Layton, himself a Toronto city councillor, and Sarah Campbell.

Quote:“I refuse to stand on the sideline and watch the desperation of parents waiting for child care, 17,000 in Toronto alone. Really, I have worked so hard for 30 years for children, for a national child care program, and we are at a historic moment.” — From Tuesday’s news conference.