The people driving the agenda for the city are more likely to come from outside local government than inside. This was the year our premier, rendered virtually impotent by a minority legislature, up and quit without warning. And our mayor, who listens to no one and refuses to build consensus on council, has created a city hall power vacuum.
What follows is Toronto Life’s list of the real influence peddlers—the people who, either publicly or behind the scenes, have had the greatest impact on the city. We looked for people whose power was broad enough to be felt across different sectors, or else so palpable in their immediate field that it somehow changed things for the rest of us. We looked for people whose ability to alter public opinion, raise money, rally troops or simply get stuff done was both formidable and undeniable. The result is a carefully calculated and highly opinionated look at power in the city in 2012.
(Images: Daniel Ehrenworth, Vanessa Heins, Markian Lozowchuk, George Pimentel, Lee Towndrow, Raina and Wilson, BFA, CP Images, Getstock, Getty Images and Reuters)
Tags
50 Most Influential, 50 Most Influential 2012, Albert Schultz, Amanda Lang, Art Gallery of Ontario, Bank of Canada, Bell, Bill Blair, Blue Jays, Bonnie Brooks, Cameron Bailey, CBC, Chapters, Clayton Ruby, David Mirvish, Drake, Dwight Duncan, Ed Clark, Fairfax Financial Holdings, Freed Developments, Goldman Sachs, Gord Nixon, Heather Reisman, Indigo, Jim Flaherty, Joe Fresh, Joe Mimran, John Tory, Jose Bautista, Karen Stintz, Kirstine Stewart, Lanterra, Larry Tanenbaum, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Margaret Atwood, Mark Carney, Matthew Teitelbaum, National Post, Nigel Wright, Oliver and Bonacini, Paul Godfrey, pension funds, Peter Munk, Prem Watsa, Queen's Park, Robert Prichard, Rogers, Royal Bank, Russell Peters, Ryerson University, Sarah Polley, Sheldon Levy, SickKids, Soulpepper, TD Bank, The Bay, TIFF, Toronto Star, tridel