Renata Ford, wife of late Toronto mayor Rob Ford, has died: 'My heart breaks for Stephanie and Dougie'

In a statement on Monday night, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that Renata Ford has died.

Renata was the wife of late Toronto mayor Rob Ford and sister-in-law of the current Ontario Premier. She was 55. The cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Renata leaves behind her two children, Stephanie and Douglas.

“My heart breaks for Stephanie and Dougie,” the premier said in a statement. “They’ve been through so much at such young ages, and losing their mom is incredibly painful. Our whole family is hurting for them. We ask that people respect their privacy during this very difficult time.”

Born Renata Brejniak to Polish parents, she first met Rob Ford in high school — they both attended All Saints Roman Catholic Church in Etobicoke, Ont. Renata divorced her first husband , Artur Kisiki, in 1996, and married Rob in August 2000 at St. George’s Golf and Country Club, according to a comprehensive Toronto Life profile of her in 2011.

The two were together until Rob’s death from cancer in 2016. He had served as a Toronto city councillor for Etobicoke North from 2000 to 2010, and as mayor from 2010 to 2014 before deciding to again run for council. He regained his old seat.

During Rob’s mayoral term, Renata was noted for her lack of public appearances. A 2013 CBC profile of Rob called her “perhaps the most enigmatic figure in the Ford firmament,” and said her “personal details seem to be among the most closely guarded secrets in Toronto.”

In 2017, she was sentenced to three years of probation, 100 hours of community service, and a $1,100 fine after being found guilty of impaired driving the previous year. She later spoke about her addiction issues and her sobriety since the conviction.

In the 2019 federal election, Renata ran in the Toronto riding of Etobicoke North as a candidate for the People’s Party of Canada. However, she placed fourth, with 2.8 per cent of the vote, losing to Liberal candidate Kirsty Duncan, who held the seat until 2025 and died this year.

In a statement released Monday, the Ontario Liberal Party offered condolences to the Ford family, writing: “We are thinking of them during this difficult time and wish them strength and comfort in the days ahead.”

Mark Towhey, who had worked as Rob’s chief of staff during his time in office, wrote of Renata’s death on social media: “Thinking of her children, Stephanie and Doug, at this difficult time.”

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