My most sincere and deepest sympathies go out to Jack’s wife Olivia and their family. I was deeply moved by his passing on Monday and spent the entire day honouring his death by visiting Parliament that afternoon, then attending his candlelight vigil in the evening on the Hill. Canada lost its greatest politician of this era that day, and in my opinion one of its best leaders of all time. The massive crowds that attended his vigil were a testament to his character. He was a truly great man, inspiring hope and courage in his fight to seek equality for Canadians. His leadership inspired me to write a theme song for the NDP for the 2011 Federal Election, which I diligently worked on and made a fairly successful video for. I sent it to every NDP candidate in the country, with the desire it would bring them the kind of hope and inspiration that Jack had given me. If Jack hadn’t been at the helm of the party at the time, I likely wouldn’t have been so motivated to do so. Seeing and hearing him speak with such passion about many issues over the years convinced me to fish rather than cut bait, and I joined the NDP in their quest for peace, equality, and justice for all Canadians. He is one of my greatest political heroes, standing tall next to John Lennon, Dr. Martin Luther King and my late grandfather MPP Dr. Richard T. Potter. So long as I live, Jack Layton will remain in my mind an exemplary human being. Rest in peace, Jack. You will be sorely missed.
