Waiting for Jack: Two visits to see Jack Layton in Toronto

Waiting for Jack May 1st, 2011

Waiting for Jack August 26th, 2011

There are so many great photographs and articles about the outpouring of emotions surrounding the death of Jack Layton, leader of the NDP and Canada's Official Opposition that I wasn't planning on posting these here.  After looking through some photos I decided I better just put a few up here after all.


We lived in Jack Layton's riding for quite a few elections.  We moved one riding over for this federal election and were part of the "Orange Crush", electing a new NDP MP after years of a Liberal Incumbent.


On the night before the Federal election, we waited in the pouring rain outside Matthew Kellway's Danforth campaign office for 2 hours.  It was important to us to go for many reasons but especially so that Rebecca grows up knowing that politics are import in our family now matter how she ultimately votes.

Now only a few months later we waited for another two hours to see him again.  The crowd had quite a few of the same faces, representing so much of Toronto's diverse population. Although the crowd wasn't as charged as the first time the energy from the people at Nathan Philip's Square was incredible.

 Family portrait in line at Toronto City Hall.  Rebecca was a superstar of patience and was very well behaved when meeting the Layton Family.

Police on Horses, TTC Honour Guard, News Media everywhere, chalk inscriptions in so many languages, and crowds of families.  We talked to a couple that had flown in from Saskatoon to be there.

Woke up this morning to this photo of us on Torontoist.  We're looking pretty orange while paying our  respects.

We added to the chalk memorials.  I've never seen anything like it.  its been washed away by rain 3 times and springs back up immediately. Even our stick-in-the-mud mayor has been quoted as liking it.

We brought sunflowers from our garden.  Rebecca finally reminded us that she is two by crying that she didn't want to leave the flowers after she put them down. Much to the delight of the entire Canadian Media.


To sum things up I'd like to ask my Canadian readers to take a second and commit to voting.  In every election and at every chance offered to them.  Additionally, consider formally joining the political party of your choice.  Membership in the Federal NDP is as low as $5 for Youth and the un(der)employed and is really a simple way to be involved. Jack would like it.