Jack Layton was a rare breed of a man. His optimistic outlook and a pragmatic sensibility grounded him throughout his extraordinary career.
When Pierre Elliot Trudeau passed away in 2000, I was a disinterested 12-year-old, trying to make sense of his passing. Today, as I reflect on Layton’s passing, I have a tremendous appreciation for his remembrance. Jack wasn’t self-aggrandizing or controversial like Trudeau. But like Trudeau, he was himself – a middle-class, Montreal-born public servant, dedicated to a better Canada.
It was difficult to separate Layton from his politics, because they were synonymous. Layton tried to revitalize politics – fighting to give it a good name again – with unrelenting commitment to tolerance, compassion and social justice.
More: http://www.calgaryherald.com.
Zain Velji is a writer and community organizer from Calgary, Alberta. He is a columnist with Reza Aslan’s AslanMedia.com, writing on foreign policy. Zain graduated from the University of Alberta with a degree in Political Science and Economics. Zain’s other article is on AslanMedia.com
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