Tagged: jack-layton

a year ago today we lost one of the good guys

- by admin

jack layton, the leader of the new democratic party, died of cancer and the country lost one of its best, loudest, and most compassionate voices

even if you didn't like the ndp you can't deny that jack was a great person, a caring politician, and a man who not only had a vision of a better canada, but made every effort in his daily life to live his vision. he rode his bike to work every day. he had solar panels on his house. he met with regular canadians every chance he got and genuinely listened to their opinions.

I met him at the ndp rally in winnipeg a few years ago when he was running for the prime minister's office in the federal election, the year the orange crush changed the political spectrum of the country. it showed how he moved so many people, and when I saw him speak he moved me. I'd never seen anyone speak so fiercely about the good canadians are capable of, who was so energized about working together and helping each other.

after he was done speaking he was walking around shaking hands and I found myself standing in front of him. he wasn't much taller than I am, which was surprising, and he took my hand in his and shook it and I said the first stupid thing I could think of. I said "good luck jack, I know you can do it" and he said

"with your help we can do anything. thank you"

and after I cried. like I'm crying now. because he was right.

what we need to take away from his death is that the fate of our country isn't in the hands of one man, but in our collaborative efforts to achieve greatness and make canada a better place.

I hope one day we can make him proud.

rip jack, I miss the shit out of you.


 

Mo Money, Mo Mustaches!

- by admin

It's that time again, boys and girls!


This year in memory of Jack Layton I've started up a Mo Team The Trustaches (fitting, eh?) to help raise money to help fight prostate cancer! You can support my team by donating here, or even better, joining our team and growing your own MO and collecting donations with us!

Obviously since I can't grow a MO on my face, this is what I'll be rocking all month:



it's going to be filled in, little by little.

Let's do this, people. Get your shit together and donate.

For Jack.


 

Jack Layton passed away today

- by admin

he was 61 and he had cancer and I am very, very upset about it

for my non-Canuck pals Jack Layton was the leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada. he was the official leader of the Official Opposition to the Conservative Party, which holds a majority government right now.

he was an amazing person who fought hard for important things in our country and had a vision for Canada that I think has been lost by the people in charge right now

politics are huge and even if you don't agree with someone's policies it's impossible not to say that my country lost a great person this morning

he's right up there with Tommy Douglas, Stephen Lewis and Pierre Trudeau. he was an amazing Canadian and a really cool, interesting person.

he rode his bike to work every morning, did you know that?

there was a shot of him at The Olympics in '10 with his wife and he was clearly wasted watching hockey and I thought "you're so cool Jack Layton"

and I met him during his campaign. I shook his hand and he looked me in the eye and I feel stupid for saying so but it changed me in a way I can't describe. I told him I believed in him and I did.

I went to go get a stress coffee because everyone in my office is talking about it and being upset and it's depressing me even more and now I'm back and it's just as bad. maybe worse.

funny how something like this affects you. and the people around you.

everyone I know is fucked-up about this right now

I'm going to go run on the treadmill and cry and pretend it's sweat or workout tears or something I don't know.
 

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