Jack

Like the rest of the country, I have been caught in the whirlwind reaction to the death of Jack Layton. While in Toronto for a back to school shopping trip to the Eaton Centre, I told my son Jack that we would be stopping by the chalk memorial at Nathan Phillips Square. I wanted him to experience this historic moment even though he had little knowledge of who Jack Layton was or what he represented.

It was the kind of request that used to send me into a tailspin, like when my parents would announce we were stopping by the Parliament buildings on a family vacation. As a young child, I remember meeting John Diefenbaker on the stairs of Parliament when he stopped to shake my 7 year old hand. Though I had no idea who he was, my parents near hysteria tipped me off that this was a big deal and I remember it vividly to this day.

So, I wasn’t surprised when I got the standard teenage pissy response that is a given when you try to divert a 13 year old from his intended target, this being the Hot Topic store for back to school shopping. Still, I held my ground and steered him into the centre of the square.

I was immediately struck by the silence. In a square full of people there was a stillness that was quite surreal. People were bent over writing, roaming, weeping. It was remarkable and in the middle of the city, it felt so safe and warm.

As I was reading some of the chalk offerings, I noticed my Jack bent down with chalk in hand. He was writing a message to this man he knew little about but clearly got that he had done something remarkable. And sure the name didn’t hurt either.

As I continued to walk the square, we stopped in front of the makeshift tribute of flowers, candles, mementos. A crowd was gathered as a woman placed an orange cardboard sign with the now famous words from Layton’s letter.

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.
Jack Layton

There was a collective sigh from the crowd as the woman teared up. I felt my son’s hand rest on my back.
We continued on to the Eaton Centre but I knew this was 20 minutes of his life that he will remember forever.

I know there is a sentiment that perhaps we as Canadians are overdoing it, the reaction is over the top and insincere. God forbid, we are making a spectacle of ourselves.

I say it’s about time. You have to let people feel what they are feeling. It’s that simple.
God speed Jack Layton.