Tonight saw Toronto's Mayor Miller receive the distinction of being named the first 'Honorary King of the Hill'.

The brief ceremony, organized by the MyStClair Coronation Committee, was conducted at the beginning of the Ward 17 session of the 'Listening to Toronto' budget consultations that have been going on around the City.

It began with the reading of a declaration which stated in part 'For having successfully negotiated the Hill which once formed the shore of ancient Lake Ontario (known to many as The Ridge) and thereby coming upon our great Avenue..."

The Mayor was then presented with some of the many treasures from his honorary kingdom including some very good food from Very Good Food and David Miller Power Cookies from World Class Bakers, which "helped fuel my campaign", the Mayor quipped.

The discussion of transit options also came into it when it was noted that instead of all this talk of streetcars and buses "what St Clair really needs is a Subway", whereupon His Honour was presented with a hat from franchise owner Peter 'The Subway Guy' Cushman, who owns the Subway franchise on St Clair just east of Dufferin.

The crowning moment came with the presentation of the Honorary King of the Hill's new sceptre - a broom (more precisely a Mexican Marino 180) which was the symbol of Miller's 'Clean Up Toronto' campaign. The sceptre was presented by David Kresz, the new owner of Sam's Hardware, located on St Clair a few blocks west of Oakwood.

The 'regal' ceremonies were preceded by a Valentine's wish from Dante Vivacqua De Thomasis, which was well received by the Mayor as it ensured he would have something to give his wife Jill.

Brief addresses by Ward 17 Councillor Cesar Palacio and the Mayor initiated the formal part of the budget session, presided over by Budget Chief David Soknacki. The main thrust of the session was to determine how the City should deal with its $344 million deficit.

One person was overheard to remark, "Looks like we are being asked to write the user manual for that broom".