You’ll be missed, Jack

On Saturday, I had the great luck to be asked to work the State Funeral and Tribute to the late Jack Layton’s life. I never met the man in person, but I’ve seen him from time to time over the years at the various appearances he made at Pride events, I’ve seen him and Olivia marching in the parade many times and even passed by him like a ship in the night as he merrily went about his way in the various communities he supported. Community, freedom and equality were vital to him and it showed in every facet of his life.

Standing watching the various leaders and VIPs speak, I was overwhelmed at the powerful words and heartfelt emotions expressed. I was overwhelmed at the sheer number of people that crowded in and around Roy Thomson Hall to pay their final respects. A good chunk of King Street was closed off, and a jumbo TV had been erected in the adjacent park so the hundreds of people who weren’t able to attend the event in person were able to feel a part of it, as they sat just outside. I loved that even though it was such a tragedy to lose such a great man in his prime, there was more of an atmosphere of celebrating his life than mourning his loss. He was a genuine, honest man with a big heart, who was an eager listener: an absolute paradox for a savvy politician. He was a man of great wisdom and he taught a lot of Canadians a very basic, but very important, lesson: respect and really listen to your fellow Canadians. It’s a lesson well learned.

The way Jack Layton lived his life is an ideal example of being fully in control of the story of one’s life as each page is being turned. He was present in the moment as it happened even as he strode toward the future that waited — one that he actively created. Even at the end of his story, he asserted himself on how he wished it to end. We should all be that bold and confident with the narrative of our lives.

“My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.”

~Jack Layton (1950 – 2011)~