Mon, Aug 22, 2011
Former federal NDP leader Jack Layton has lost his battle with cancer. Layton, who led the NDP to official opposition status and a remarkable breakthrough in Quebec in the last federal election, had turned 61 in July.
He had earlier successfully fought prostate cancer but recently announced that he was battling a new, unspecified illness, and stepped down from the the NDP leadership. At the time, he said he was counting on being able to recover and return to Parliament.
23. May 2013
Former professional football player and current medical student Jean-Philippe Darche, BSc’97, was named to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
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August 22nd, 2011 at 1:35 pm
Jack will be missed by those who knew him at McGill, including his fraternity brothers from Sigma Chi. Not surprisingly, Jack was very involved with the fraternity, including acting as president. Jack was always the life of any party. The image of Jack with his mutton-chop sideburns, dancing enthusiastically to Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild” between strobe light flashes, will forever be etched in my memory.
Just before he went into federal politics, he came to London, ON for a municipal conference on housing which I also attended. It was great to see him after so many years and we shared some good moments at the conference. Before he left town with his bag and the six-foot keyboard that he always took with him, he insisted I come with him to finished off the remaining few beers in his hotel refrigerator.
While we were talking of earlier times at McGill and savouring the moment, he received a call from his son in Toronto. His son had just found a homeless person sleeping on the front porch of their home. He was not sure what to do. Jack instantly took on a genuine caring, concerned and thoughtful persona. He gave very clear and precise instructions about who to call to provide assistance to the man, including names and phone numbers, all from memory, as if he had done it many times before. He probably had.
Goodbye, Jack. I will have one more beer with you tonight.
August 25th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Condolences to all the family and friends of Jack Layton, a most honorable and prestigious graduate of McGill University! Thank you to Jack, for always promoting Peace and Unity to Canada, and giving Canadians words of encouragement and goodwill for the future. “Love is better than Anger…” The release of 61 Doves of Peace was a most symbolic gift, on his final departure from Parliament Hill on August 25th, 2011, and his last stop in Quebec. May Peace always be with him,too…… RIP Jack
August 25th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
Dear Jack and family. You have gone so fast it’s hard to believe. I revered you very much. Bless you beyond and your family. Prayers, “Great Minds Work Together”.
August 25th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
Jack’s a guy who remembers people. I was involved in 2 or 3 elections: candidate 1982, Official agent etc. At one NDP meet and greet I’d not seen Jack for 2 years or more and was preparing to introduce myself. As I approached Jack was chatting and sipping. He said “I’d love to talk longer but here comes Bill Evans and I need to speak with him.”
I think we created the NDP Riding Association for Beauharnois Salabery out of that short chat. I think he even asked me to run for parliament again. Jack got things done by remembering people, ordinary people like me.
There’ll be no replacing him. Should I get involved again?
August 25th, 2011 at 9:52 pm
You have offered your entired life and every efforts to build a better country. You are great and we are proud of you, a great Canadian.
May God bless your soul in heaven.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:24 am
Jack was a person who availed himself to everyone. He was passionate in his convictions for the betterment of all Canadians. Throughout his service as a public figure he steadfastly remained a genuine and approachable individual. His legacy is that he believed in the process that makes Canada limitless in potential and immeasurable in spirit, in that this nation can lead the way…
August 26th, 2011 at 7:36 am
As an urban planner working for Marathon Realty in Toronto in the 1980s, I had the good fortune to participate in one of the many public outreach programs started by Jack Layton – the Gardiner Lakeshore Task Force. Our paths continued to connect over the years on a remarkably diverse range of urban issues ranging from environmental initiatives such as the Task Force to Bring Back the Don and the Toronto Atmospheric Fund to support for the development of district energy systems. As vice president of education and research with the Canadian Urban Institute I was also able to engage him in our conferences and seminars. An appreciation of Jack’s important role as a passionate champion for Canada’s cities can be found at http://www.canurb.org. Glenn Miller
August 26th, 2011 at 8:14 am
I was shocked and deeply saddened by this week’s news about Jack Layton’s lost battle to cancer. It is hard to imagine someone so full of life being gone. What I find particularly heartwrenching is the fact that he will never see the fruit of his historic victory in May. We all have a part to play in making our country a better place, and Jack Layton was our greatest champion in this regard. May we all play our part, in memory of Jack.
August 26th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
As a fellow transplanted Quebecer and fellow alumnus (BA’75)of McGill, I will always remember Jack as the man who terminated the Bloc Quebecois and restored Quebec representation in Ottawa.
Jack continued to be optimistic and fight his cancer to the end and never gave up. This is a lasting legacy to him and a stellar example to all that are battling this dreaded disease.
August 26th, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Jack has left us an enduring legacy of compassion, caring, integrity, caring and respect. May we all strive to live up to his standards and make Canada a better country. He has also engaged a whole new generation to carry on his vision and give us hope for the future.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting Jack on several occasions during election campaigns and also while he and Olivia were here vacationing here in Nova Scotia Thank you Olivia and family for sharing him with us.
August 26th, 2011 at 6:42 pm
I never voted for Jack, but my youngest son, Jeremy(PhD,pending,UofT) worked in Olivia’s campaign, and I’m proud that he did. With Lewis, Broadbent, and Layton, it was always a tough choice between the reds and orange. Jack was indeed a great Canadian and McGill alumni should be proud that he’s one of us.
August 28th, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Regardless of one’s political leanings, every once in awhile someone comes along who has the wherewithal to ignite the imagination; to have us stop and consciously reflect how blessed and priviliged we are to be Canadian; to believe wholeheartedly in the limitless possibilities of this great Land.
Jack Layton was one of those special people. To lose his prophetic vision, his indomitable spirit and all that he brought to the public domain is a loss for each and everyone of us.
May his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.
August 29th, 2011 at 11:47 am
Jack,
‘God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be.
So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me.”
With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away.
Although Canada loved you dearly, we could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.’
Our prayers for strength and courage for Olivia Chow and family.
November 1st, 2011 at 1:38 pm
We all need to learn from you, Jack!
To give yourself to others like you did, regardless of the circumstances, till the last end.
To be good to others like a bread.
To seed peace and love among the people around so the world would be a better place for all.
Thank you!
May 13th, 2012 at 10:16 pm
I is sad to know that Jack has lost his battle with cancer. Surely, he is one of the icons who will be missed dearly.