In Memoriam: Jack Layton, 1950-2011

In a tragic irony, Canada's Leader of the Opposition, Jack Layton, 61, has died of prostate cancer just three months after leading his party to a stunning, historic breakthrough in the last parliamentary election.

He is survived by his wife, Olivia Chow, who is also a New Democratic MP, and two children.  Funeral arrangments have yet to be announced.


Layton salutes supporters with his cane during the 2011 election campaign

From the beginning of his political career in the 1980's as a member of the Toronto city council, Layton was always a friend of the LGBT community, and his party's support was instrumental in the passing of Canada's equal-marriage law in 2005.

A few days ago, Layton penned a farewell message to Canadians, which reads in part:

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. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. . . .

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.

My condolences to all Canadians.  Rest in peace, bon Jack.

Layton and Chow ride a tandem bike in Toronto's gay pride parade, 2005