Hundreds pay tribute

Elaine Kerr grew up with Jack Layton.

On Thursday, she, along with about 300 others, paid her final respects to the man who went on to lead the federal NDP party, only to die of cancer on Monday, just months after taking his party into unprecedented political territory and official Opposition status.

Kerr, originally from Hudson, Que., spoke during the open mic portion of Thursday’s memorial service for Layton, held in a balmy Hillcrest Park overlooking the Sleeping Giant.

Holding back tears, Kerr recalled marathon swimming sessions with Layton, who never traveled far without his guitar.

“As much as I’ve lost a mentor, and somebody who really gave a damn, it’s part (hopeful) for me as well,” she told the crowd.

“Let me tell you ... The whole family was a giving family in our community. So we will certainly miss him.”

Chris Powell immigrated to Canada from Germany, and said Layton is the only politician to date who looked out for his fellow man.

And while the NDP rose to incredible heights on May 2, winning 103 seats, it wasn’t the party or the local candidates voters were casting their ballots for, Powell said.

“It was he who got the votes and he who the people need,” he said.

Coun. Andrew Foulds, a longtime NDP supporter, said he was shocked when he heard the news on Monday, adding it’s left him devastated.

Foulds, who was in Toronto earlier in the week, said he visited the numerous memorials that sprung up in Layton’s adopted hometown.

News reports didn’t do them justice, Foulds said.

“It is quite unbelievable how Jack has impacted all of us,” he said, recalling the first time he met Layton, at his parents’ house when Layton was campaigning for the party leadership.

Foulds said he challenged Layton, saying something to the effect that to earn his vote, he needed to know that every child in school was going to have a history book. That, said Foulds, a teacher, is more important than being in a history book, where Layton’s destiny now lies.

“The reality is Jack has done both. He has worked his entire career, both municipally and federally to ensure that no one is left behind, that every kid has that history book. And he has defied the odds and he has written history. And when I say that, he has defined the future as well.”

Sarah Gosselin, representing the youth in the crowd, said Layton reignited the political spark inside her, and though it waned briefly with his death, the words he left Canadians in a poignant letter penned two days before he died brought it all flooding back again.

“To wake up on Monday morning and turn on the TV and see that he had passed away, it was almost like that flame just instantly had this reaction, to go inside and die. But after reading his letter, it was just reignited with passion and I don’t think it’s going to go out,” she said, to the applause of those gathered in the park.

“I know that when something’s wrong I’ll stand against it and when something’s right, I’ll stand up for it, and I’m pretty darn sure I’ll be wearing orange.” 

MP John Rafferty said Layton would be very happy with Thursday’s turnout, which mirrored similar efforts across Canada this week.

“It’s hard to know the impact that you make on people’s lives, and I think Jack would have been pleased with this turnout and really the turnouts right across the country,” Rafferty said.

“You know what, if you met Jack, you were a friend and you felt you were a friend and you were a friend of Jack’s. People sense that, they know that.”

Layton who lay in state at the House of Commons until Thursday, will be given a state funeral on Saturday in Toronto.