Russian born Toronto resident, Natalie Glebova, returned home last week for the first time after being crowned Miss Universe almost two months ago.
Upon her return, Glebova appeared at Toronto City Hall for a press conference and photo-op. Out of the bloated 45 members that constitute Toronto City Council, only one councillor, Gloria Lindsay-Luby, put in an appearance. Mayor David Miller, who has yet to congratulate the 23-year-old pageant winner, was "too busy" to attend. apparently none of the three or 30 or however many deputy mayors we have now, could make it either.
If one were to be cynical about this left leaning council (cynical about these guys; never!) it could be thought that the snub of Ms. Glebova was intentional. Lindsay-Luby appeared to be nothing more than council’s mandatory designated representative; the one required to attend to present Glebova with the city’s bag of goodies, which included a hat, t-shirt and key changed, all emblazoned with Toronto’s ridiculous new logo, "Toronto unlimited", whatever that means.
Natalie Glebova at first appears to be everything that would make lefty councillors willing to skip their cell meetings and run down to welcome her with open arms. She’s acts as an ambassador for Toronto; someone who can help put Toronto on the map so that even terrorists, whom Councillor Howard Moscoe says don’t know where the city is, can find us. Not that council would care, but Glebova’s spreading the good word about Toronto doesn’t cost us any money.
Glebova was born in Russia and since David Miller can barely utter a sentence that does not include the words "multicultural" or "diverse", you would think that even if he couldn’t personally welcome her, he would have ensured a higher turnout of councillors to greet her. Glebova’s priority during her reign as Miss Universe is to do what she can to combat HIV/aIDS and you can’t find a more politically correct cause than that to work on.
No, despite all of the Ryerson grad’s accomplishments and plans that she has made since being crowned Miss Universe was not enough to get the city mothers interested enough to meet and acknowledge her when she visited Toronto City Hall. and there is a possible explanation for why Glebova is being ignored as much as possible by this council. Undoubtedly most councillors are keeping their distance from her because of what she is — a beauty pageant winner.
If this is the reason, it wouldn’t be the first time. Back in 1990, city council voted 10-7 to prohibit beauty contests from being held at Nathan Phillips Square. according to the politically correct crowd on council, women strutting around in bikinis were "demeaning to women". The motion for the ban was tabled after complaints were received about the previous summer’s CHIN bikini contest that was held on the city hall square. NDP MPP and federal candidate, Marilyn Churley, who was then on council said, "The argument that it’s a tradition and has always been with us--I use the argument; so has the abuse of women." To compare the CHIN contest that is still going strong on the Toronto Islands with abuse of women is illustrative of just how these people think. It makes light of battered women. Come to think of it, it’s amazing that even Lindsay-Luby showed up.
If that wasn’t enough, the musical group, The Barenaked Ladies was banned from playing at Nathan Phillips Square on New Year’s Eve, 1991. as well, the group who when they appear are neither "barenaked" or "ladies", were banned from ever appearing at city-sponsored events because their name "objectifies women". Even if you could make an argument that beauty pageants do demean women and should be banned, the barring of The Barenaked Ladies was pure and utter foolishness.
The thinking of both former Toronto Mayor June Rowlands and Churley, both of whom are proof positive that politics is show business for the ugly, is still alive and well at Toronto City Hall.
If only Natalie Glebova was a sex trade worker instead of a Miss Universe winner. If only she had aIDS instead of spending time trying to raise awareness of the disease. She would have been welcomed at Toronto City Hall with open arms.
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