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Jack Layton 1950-2011 R.I.P.

Rob Ford said (at this link):
"He sat right beside me, taught me a lot," he said "(At his casket) I said a little prayer and thanked him for everything he taught me."

Layton was first elected to Toronto city council in 1982.

"The first day in council," recalled Ford. "(Layton told me) 'Don't take it personally, stand up, say what you believe in and sit down.' It's intimidating to come down here, (I was) 29 years old, a young guy. He said 'You and I aren't going to agree on a lot of things.' At the end of the day, we didn't agree on much."
Click to expand...

Too bad Rob took what the master had taught him and went over to the dark side.
 
I went through NPS around 7pm and it was an amazing sight to behold: chalk writing covering nearly every available square meter, and the place buzzing with crowds and media. Jack Layton's passing has had the unforeseen effect of uniting this city in a way that I haven't witnessed since the forced amalgamation in 98, or the World Series win in 93. It's really been a fractured city for most of its recent history with very few civic rallying points. Hopefully this feeling lasts longer than the chalk and leads to something positive and enduring. The funeral procession could be a defining moment for a city that has had very few of them.
 
A few photos around NPS

 
Well, what can you say about the service?

Project End and his brother and I stood with the throng gathered in and around David Pecaut Square. A number of screens. Great sound. The concrete and glass exterior of Roy Thomson Hall notwithstanding, I think everyone present felt like we were in the hall. It's true what others have said above, that Jack's passing has brought some rare unity to many of us. Not necessarily that we will all vote for a particular party forever, but one could not escape the message that it is important to act and to do it for the right reasons. I'll let others dissect the particulars of the various speakers' words; all made me feel that much more proud of who we are, and hopeful for what we can do as Canadians.

I imagine that there were a number of UT members attending, or watching on television. It was good to be there with you.

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As someone who is neither politically partisan, nor as my tag indicates, ideologically monolithic..........

I nonetheless felt the impulse to take in some of today's proceedings.

Beyond the requisite and genuine condolences to the man's family .....

Or the rightful respect owed any person passing beyond this plane of existence.

I wish to credit both him and the additional organizers of the funeral.

Not for the music or the personal sentiment, lovely though both might be.

Nor any of the protocol.

But for the conveyance of the most simple sentiments.

No matter one's understanding or preference on detailed policy matters or personal styles.

Each person owes but the smallest (and largest) personal debt to this world.

Leave it better than you found it; and with each relationship, work or personal, make every endeavour that each person whose met you is better for the experience.

These sentiments are or ought to be universal and pan-political, and represent a worthy tribute to any person, political or otherwise.
 
Ryerson honors Jack with their LED lighting

 
Laton's Memorial & Funeral
[video=youtube;clsh06QCWH4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clsh06QCWH4[/video]
[video=youtube;NeVSKLlc1qE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeVSKLlc1qE[/video]
[video=youtube;v0ucfRLjQ7M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0ucfRLjQ7M[/video]
 
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I wonder where Jack Layton will end up in the CCF/NDP pantheon? He is certainly below Tommy Douglas on the list, since I do not think that anybody can top Douglas's amazing record of achievement, but I can see him being a solid #2 on the NDP list of great leaders. I don't know who #3 would be. J.S. Woodsworth (founder of the CCF) perhaps? Or maybe Ed Broadbent?

edit -- Actually, I am leaning towards putting Jack at #3 after J.S. Woodsworth. The more I read about Woodsworth, the more impressed I become. He was a truly admirable man, with an extensive list of achievements of his own. As much as I admired Jack Layton, I do not think that his career matched those of Douglas or Woodsworth in terms of sheer moral audacity.
 
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How soon we forget

I watched the CBC National last night at 9 PM, no mention what so ever of Layton or the NDP.
 
The National will pick up a bit on it this week with analysis of where the NDP goes from here & such then more on Jack when The Senate reconvenes at the end of September.
 
I got to the Square fairly late, stood at the front doors of City Hall as the mourners left, and walked down University Avenue to hear the service outside in the other Square. A branch snapped and someone fell out of a tree next to me just after the service began. Someone else near me needed medical attention - I think they fainted. As ever, Stephen Lewis was inspiring - the only time I've ever bought a membership to a political party was in 1975, when I joined the Ontario NDP and was a scrutineer in that year's election, when Lewis held the Davis PCs to a minority and it looked as if the party might go on to form the government next time - and for a moment there on Saturday I hoped he was about to announce his candidacy for Jack's old job.

I moved over to Simcoe Street as the guests were let out - Jim Cuddy ( who I can see any day on my street ) and his wife; Gargantua and Pentagruel in their ill-fitting Blues Brothers suits, looking decidedly glum, completely ignored by the crowd; a gaggle of bigwig politicians including failed Socialist Bob Rae; Henry Morgenthaler in a wheelchair getting a small burst of applause; Ed Broadbent getting a larger burst of applause; David Suzuki getting the loudest burst of applause.
 
What an amazing eulogy from Stephen Lewis...quite funny too to see Harper applauding Jack's "manifesto for social democracy." I realize at 73 he is on the old side, but I would love it he made a political comeback and ran in the Danforth by-election. He would be a major asset to the NDP caucus.
 
It'll be interesting to see the degree to which they'll open nominations to the party membership in general, rather than just the caucus.
 
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