Canada's largest city, Toronto elected its first woman of colour as its mayor. Olivia Chow's being elected ends over a decade of conservative rule. 

This is the first time a woman has been elected as mayor in the multicultural city. Toronto's former mayor John Tory resigned a few months into his third term after he admitted to having an affair with a staffer. Tory was elected mayor in October.

Tory was known as a straight-laced, button-down moderate conservative almost the polar opposite of previous Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, whose term was plagued by scandals involving public drinking and illegal drug use. 

About 102 candidates contested the elections on Monday. Chow received 37 per cent of the votes, Ana Bailao came in close with 33 per cent votes. "It's a city where an immigrant kid from St. James Town can be standing in front of you as your new mayor," Chow said.

Chow represented a downtown district of Toronto at the federal level for eight years and was part of the city council for 13 years.
 

She has promised to purchase more affordable housing.

-- With PTI inputs