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His drug and alcohol-fuelled antics made world headlines and engulfed a city in unprecedented controversy. Toronto mayor Rob Ford's personal and political troubles have occupied centre stage in North America's fourth-largest city since news broke that drug dealers were selling a videotape of Ford appearing to smoke crack cocaine. Reporter Robyn Doolittle was one of three journalists to view the video and report on its contents in May 2013. Her dogged pursuit of the story has uncovered disturbing details about the mayor's past, and embroiled the Toronto police, city councillors, and ordinary citizens in a raucous debate about the future of the city. Even before those explosive events, Ford was a divisive figure. A populist and successful city councillor, he was an underdog to become mayor in 2010.
About the Author
Robyn Doolittle is an investigative reporter with the , Canada's national newspaper. She began her career at the , covering crime and later municipal politics. Her two-year investigation into Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's substance abuse issues garnered worldwide attention, and in 2014, the Star's Ford investigation was nominated for a Canadian Association of Journalists award and a Michener Award for public service journalism. A graduate of Ryerson University, Doolittle has lived in Toronto since 2002.