Rest In Peace Jack Layton

Courtesy of MartinHo

News spread fast about the passing of NDP Leader Jack Layton. And grief spread just as fast, if not faster. Jack may have been the opposition to get Canadians believing change could happen, but he was also a family man, a community man, a lover and a fighter for all things good. He was also a survivor of prostate cancer. Not even a month ago he announced he was temporarily stepping down as he found out that another kind of cancer had appeared that was different from what he had beaten before. It took a turn for the worse though as his body didn't respond to treatment and on August 22, 2011 Jack Passed away surrounded by family.

Even if you weren't an NDP supporter, you knew who Jack was. You knew what he was about and you knew how passionate he was about youth and his community. He made a believer out of me and many other young voters who didn't believe Canadian politics could be changed.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future. 


Jack you will always be apart of the legacy of great Canadians who set out to change the world. You were the best Prime Minister we never had and an amazing person. Even tho I never met you, I felt like you were a close relative. With your heartwarming smile and soulful speeches, it was hard not to like you - even if you rooted for the other team. 


Forever in our hearts.

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.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

REST IN PEACE JOHN GILBERT "JACK" LAYTON <3