As leader of the federal New Democratic Party (NDP), he was recently elected as the opposition leader against the re-elected Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservatives. What makes Layton's death especially hard is that cancer struck him down before he had a chance to savour his victory. He was also at the height of his popularity, as he had promised to usher in a new era of change for Canadians.
I met Layton at a Christmas concert he hosted at one of the churches in Toronto in December 2004. I remember being overwhelmed by the crowds as I looked for a place to see the show. All of a sudden, I saw Layton with his hand stretched out, along with a smile. He welcomed me, and I remember telling him that I was looking forward to the concert.
Any cynical or jaded views I may have held prior to meeting him quickly melted away, because he made such a positive impression. Even though I didn't always agree with him politically, I admired his courage, passion, strength and tenacity. The fact that he championed the causes of people with disabilities was also a plus.
When he died this past Monday (August 22), his family released a farewell letter he had drafted just two days earlier. The whole letter was moving, particularly towards the end, which reads: "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."
Today I paid my respects to Layton at Toronto's City Hall, where his political career began as a city councilor back in the '80s. In the condolence book I wrote that he made politics in Canada interesting, and that he will be missed. As I looked at the casket I thanked him and flashed a peace sign. He will be given a state funeral Saturday, something that is rarely granted to an opposition leader.
Jack Layton is gone, but this valiant warrior will never be forgotten.
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