State funeral for ‘Jack’

Rare honour for the federal opposition leader who was claimed by cancer.
Many Canadians are leaving flowers, notes, and messages at Jack Layton’s Toronto home, his constituency office and on Parliament Hill, in a massive outpouring of emotion.
The 61-year-old NDP leader died from cancer yesterday, exactly a month after announcing he was stepping aside to fight a new battle with cancer.
A spectacle of mourners from all walks of life have been gathering outside Layton’s constituency office in Toronto.
Hundreds at a time waited in line last night to leave flowers, sign a book of condolence, or to quietly reflect about Layton in front of the candles and tributes left in his memory.
Similar memorials for Layton are taking place in front of his Toronto home, near the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill, and in other parts of the country.
A state funeral for Layton will be held Saturday at Roy Thomson Hall.
It’s an honour that is usually reserved for prime ministers, governors-general and cabinet ministers.
Stephen Harper extended the offer of a state funeral to Layton’s widow, Olivia Chow and she accepted.
Layton’s body is expected to lie in state on Parliament Hill this week, giving even more Canadians an opportunity to pay tribute to a Canadian many knew simply as ‘Jack’.