- checking login information
Loading...Jack Layton Legacy Lives On: Hope and Optimism in Politics
A new initiative was launched on July 25 reminding Canadians of Jack Layton’s push for us to be loving, hopeful and optimistic. Layton died of cancer on August 22, 2011, after leading Canada’s New Democrats to the official opposition for the first time in the country’s history. He has left a legacy for the next generation.
Layton wanted Canadians to be hopeful about the future and about the country’s politics, and he wanted to be an example that being optimistic about change, along with a lot of hard work, can lead to change.
“Jack showed us that being compassionate and loving in politics can and will lead to success. I’ve seen Canadians across the country embrace Jack’s message. I’m excited to see his legacy recognized through DearJack.ca,”ť said Layton’s widow, Olivia Chow, who sat beside her husband as an MP for Trinity–Spadina.
The initiative encompasses a website, DearJack.ca, where Canadians are invited to share their words, photos and videos expressing how Layton’s legacy is affecting them and how they are working towards a better Canada and a better world. Tweets featuring the hashtags #DearJack and #CherJack will also be displayed on the site. The campaign will end with a ceremony marking the anniversary of Layton’s death at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. After his death, people in Toronto flocked to the square and filled it with chalk messages to Jack. Messages will still be accepted on DearJack.ca up after the celebration of Layton’s life.
“My family has been deeply touched by the support of Canadians over the past year. Every day, people strive to make this country even better, just as my dad encouraged us all to do in his last letter. DearJack.ca is a powerful platform for expressing how we’re affecting change and for inspiring one another,” said Mike Layton, Jack’s son and a member of Toronto’s city council.
The Dear Jack campaign has been put together by Layton’s family, friends and colleagues who wanted some way to mark the anniversary of his passing and knew that many Canadians would feel the same way. It is a way to honor the gift that Layton left in his farewell letter, in which he declared:
Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world.
“This is an inspiring way for Canadians to come together to express how Jack’s work lives on,” said Kathleen Monk, Executive Director of the Broadbent Institute.
Disclosure: I was a staffer in Jack Layton’s office between 2008 and his death, he continues to be serve as an inspiration to me.
Related Stories:
Read more: canada, jack layton, politics
Photo Credit: Matt Jiggins
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
I don't understand how so many people are blaming the parents/grandparent for this?? If you have a dog…
@ Patrick B.; unless you are fluent in French; how would you know about Pamela's fluency in French? Are…
Thnaks, interesting article and viewpoint.
meet our writers
24 comments
+ add your ownIt was a sad day for Canada when Jack died.
Good thoughts for Canada and it's people.
More and more people are seeing we need to live with co-operation and awareness.
Good thoughts for Canada and it's people.
More and more people are seeing we need to live with co-operation and awareness.
I cried the day Jack Layton died. I thought "There goes Canada - down the tubes." I'm glad that Tom Mulcair is following in his footsteps, so far. Keep the path straight Mulcair!
Trouble is: A lot of young adults are not voting. Across the country. They don't seem to realize the importance of their votes. They are the future ~ and they stand on the sidelines, watching. I am positive that if the young adults voted last time around Harperior would not have such a majority. We might even have had an NDP leader instead of Harpy and his crones.
May Layton be sitting beside Grant Notley, another believer. He died in a plane "accident" just before election time but would have been AB's NDP Premier. Too bad.
I believe in Layton's Legacy. I believe it was his turn and definitely Canada's only chance to save face. Thanks to Har-pus the world is looking at Canada much the same way as they look at USA.
My biggest hate for Harpoon Harper is what he wants to do to our beautiful country. Selling us to China is not a good idea, Harp. He seems bent on ruining BC. Him and Redfart herself. Harperius' Canada stops at the mountains. Last I looked BC was still part of Canada. We are not a dumping ground for Redfart's bitumen laden oil!!
And I can almost believe that Jack's death was not completely natural. I wouldn't doubt if Harpy had something to do with Layton's untimely death.
Harper is scared. It's obvious in the way he is already using the old "smear campaign" to make Mulcair lo
My hopes were on Jack. I hope Mulcair can "dethrone" Emperor Harperius before our country is destroyed. As for polonium poisoning? I should hope not but politicians will do anything to maintain power but I would be surprised that even Harper would not stoop that low. Nevertheless, let's spread the rumour if it will get rid of Harper!!! Rumour, innuendo and pure unadulterated BS works for elections in theUS!
Unfortunately, none of the Canadian political parties understand production or economics so no matter who gets in Canadians are going to suffer. Layton seemed like a good sort but his political philosophy would have plunged the country into deeper debt than even Harper is creating.
That is possibly the nicest thing I'll ever have to say about Harper.
Tom Mulcair is a great leader, who revered Jack and will keep the torch burning. Stephen Harper is scared stiff of Mulcair and the New Democrats. If that wasn't the case, he wouldn't be running a smear campaign against Tom, deliberately taking quotes out of context...same thing Romney is doing to Obama in the States. No matter where they are, right-wingers are liars and bullies...we all saw what a mess the Conservatives found themselves in after Mulroney. Looks like deja vu all over again, despite Harper's attempts to silence all critics.
Thanks for the article.
It was a sad day when Jack Layton died. He should not have - he caught the cancer early, used modern and chinese traditional healing methods. Some people have suggested that Stephen Harper had polonium put under Jack's seat in the House of Commons because he perceived Jack as a threat, but is it really relevant? Jack's legacy as an honourable politician lives on and Harper will be vilified for the rest of his days.
If just two more people in each poll in this country voted to support Jack's vision for our country, we would have a different country.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment