Getting things done for people was the hallmark of Jack Layton’s years
During a walk through Toronto Necropolis Cemetery in downtown Toronto, I visited the distinctive grave of John (Jack) Gilbert Layton—academic, city councillor, Member of Parliament, and Leader of the Official Opposition.
Jack Layton made lasting contributions to the City of Toronto as a long-time city councillor and a prominent left-wing voice, serving the city for 18 years. During that time, he helped oversee Toronto’s progressive response to the AIDS crisis and played a key role in the creation of the still-active Toronto Food Policy Council (TFPC), the first body of its kind in North America. He was a strong advocate for affordable housing and for addressing homelessness, co-founded the White Ribbon Campaign—an initiative engaging men in ending violence against women—and served as chair of the city’s cycling committee, promoting environmentally sustainable transportation. These efforts represent just a portion of his enduring legacy.
On June 28, 2004, Jack was elected Member of Parliament for Toronto–Danforth. With only 19 seats, Jack and his party nevertheless exerted significant influence in a minority Parliament, successfully pressuring Paul Martin’s Liberal government to rewrite its budget. He helped divert $4.6 billion away from corporate tax cuts toward social priorities—a very significant accomplishment.
Seven years later came the “Orange Crush,” led by Jack Layton during the 2011 federal election. The New Democratic Party surged from 36 seats to 103, becoming the Official Opposition for the first time in its history.
Jack raising a bottle of Orange Crush while campaigning in the 2011 federal election.
On July 25, 2011, Jack—looking gaunt and speaking in a raspy voice—announced he was stepping down temporarily to focus on treatment. Sadly, he would never return to office; his health deteriorated much faster than expected. Jack Layton passed away at his home in Toronto less than a month later, on August 22, 2011, at the age of 61.
As Jack wrote in his final letter to Canadians:
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.
