Christopher Peloso, the husband of former deputy premier of Ontario George Smitherman, has been reported missing since Monday and Toronto police are concerned for his safety.
According to a news release from the Toronto Police Service, Peloso, 39, was last seen Monday at 4 p.m. in Toronto's Davenport Road and Bathurst Street area.
He is described as 5’8”, weighing about 150 pounds, with short, light-brown hair and brown eyes.
He was last seen wearing a dark blue jacket with a hood, tan-coloured cargo shorts and blue flip-flops.
The Globe and Mail reports Peloso may suffer from a medical condition that has police concerned for his well-being.
Smitherman, who married Peloso in August, 2007, and adopted two young children with him, released a statement Tuesday afternoon.
I regret to confirm that Christopher Peloso has been missing from our home for almost 24 hours.
Michael, Kayla and myself, with the support of family and friends, are hopeful that our husband and father will be home safely soon.
The couple was engaged on Christmas Day, 2006, when Smitherman was serving as health minister in the cabinet of former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty. According to the Toronto Star, they married at a resort north of Elliot Lake and adopted their son not long after.
"We're constantly challenging and motivating each other," Peloso told the Star. "We keep each other in balance."
Peloso, who managed retailing operations for chocolate company Lindt Canada, went on leave from work to stand by Smitherman's side during the 2011 mayoral election in Toronto, the National Post reported.
After losing to Rob Ford, Smitherman and Peloso focused on family, adopting a second child, a baby girl.
Smitherman was interested in running for the federal Liberals in the upcoming Toronto-Centre byelection, but, in a HuffPost blog in July, explained his focus was on his family.
"I won't be a candidate now. I won't be contesting a riding in the 2015 general election or any other. I will, as always, be an active Liberal volunteer and I look forward to knocking on doors in Toronto Centre whenever the by election comes," he wrote. "First things first though, Michael, Kayla, Christopher, pack your bags. We leave for Costa Rica next Wednesday. We have taken our fork in the road."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1300, Crime Stoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
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