Canada mourns 'courageous' Jack Layton – Politics – CBC News
Let me add my voice to the chorus of sadness and praise for Jack Layton, who lost his battle with cancer today.
Jack was a champion of the little guy who fought his entire adult life for a better Canada for all. He was an unwavering supporter of gays and lesbians, something for which I will always be grateful.
I briefly met Jack once in the 1990s at some municipal conference at a Toronto hotel. (I can’t honestly remember the details of the event, only Jack’s friendly smile as he said, “Hello,” to me, a total stranger, at the coffee table.) He was that kind of guy, as we all know, always willing to say ‘Hello’ to his fellow citizens.
Who knew he’d rise to such heights on the federal scene before being taken from us so early? This is a very sad day for Canada.
But even in death, Jack is inspiring. Some words from his final letter to Canadians prove it: “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…”
