Aug 22, 2013
By Michael Kramer
Jack Layton has been immortalized in bronze on the Toronto waterfront.
A sculpture in honour of the late federal N-D-P leader has been unveiled – on the second anniversary of Layton’s death.
The life-sized statue depicts Layton sitting on the back seat of a tandem bicycle. The idea is for visitors to sit on the front seat and have their picture taken.
OFL President Sid Ryan says no one will miss the significance of Jack riding in the back seat of the bicycle because Canadians know that Jack always had their back.
Layton’s son Mike, who is a city councillor, says the tandem bicycle is a fitting symbol for Jack’s life because it takes co-operation to move forward and the experience of the journey is shared with others.
Layton succumbed to cancer two years ago today – shortly after leading the NDP to an unprecedented 103 seats in the 2011 federal election.
The bronze statue was a gift from the Ontario Labour Federation. It’s unveiling coincides with the renaming of the Toronto Island Ferry Terminal in honour of Layton, who served 17 years as a Toronto City councillor before making the leap to federal politics.
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