A man who bombarded Rob Ford with questions and criticism while out for a jog on Canada Day is drawing attention online for his shirtless confrontation with the embattled Toronto mayor.

The jogger, identified as high-school teacher Joe Killoran, has become an online viral sensation of sorts – even prompting calls for him to challenge Ford in the mayoral race -- after he blasted the mayor on Tuesday for not being truthful or answering reporter questions. The mayor, who was with his entourage at a Canada Day Parade in the city’s east-end at the time, did not respond to Killoran as he shouted at him from the sidelines.

Despite suggestions from the mayor’s entourage that Killoran was working for a mayoral rival’s campaign, he later told reporters he happened to be out for a jog when he came upon the mayor working the crowd.

“I’m just out for a jog,” Killoran told reporters. “He’s a liar, it’s one thing to be sick, that’s fine, but he has questions to answer to the people of Toronto, and he simply won’t do it.”

Video of the confrontation thrust Killoran into the spotlight Wednesday, as people took to social media using the hashtag “ShirtlessJogger,” mostly to praise Killoran’s seemingly impromptu attempt to hold the mayor to account.

Hey #shirtlessjogger, run for mayor. I dare you. — Mifi Purvis (@MifiP) July 2, 2014

#shirtlessjogger really needs to channel his articulate rage into #shirtlessblogger. Methinks a lot of people would read. — Studio 180 Theatre (@stu180theatre) July 2, 2014

Joe is the kind of person I admire! “@aelan: Toronto needs more of Joe Killoran, 35, a teacher known as #shirtlessjogger #TOpoli” — The Rabbit (@PocketSoapbox) July 2, 2014

Like "goodbye Charlie Brown" moment, #shirtlessjogger speaks for the people. — Bob Rae (@BobRae48) July 2, 2014

The most political #ShirtlessJogger this town's ever seen. — Marc Coward (@YYZMarc) July 2, 2014

One tweeter who said Killoran teaches her kids politics and debate praised him for delivering a lesson outside the classroom.

@porterthereport no idea - he teaches polisci + Debate team. Teaches kids to be ready to deliver a message when the timings right. He did :) — Jane Maciver (@MaciverJ) July 2, 2014

And of course, the incident prompted a parody account:

I have but one policy in life: pic.twitter.com/P1LxXmGTUd — TOShirtlessJogger (@ShirtlessJogger) July 2, 2014

The run-in happened a day after Ford’s high-profile return to city hall following a two-month stint in a rehabilitation facility for substance abuse. The mayor made several public appearances at Canada Day festivities and other city events, where he was both heckled and cheered by revellers.

The mayor’s brother, Coun. Doug Ford, told reporters Wednesday that the jogger’s comments were inappropriate.

“When you have a teacher, teaching his kids -- and indoctrinating his kids, in my opinion -- about hatred toward one person in politics, something is wrong there,” Doug Ford said.