 |
Layton's lying-in-state begins early in Ottawa
 |
CBC News- The doors of Parliament Hill opened early Thursday morning, allowing the lineup of people waiting to pay their respects to Jack Layton to start moving ahead of schedule.
The second day of public visitation for the late NDP leader, who is lying in state in the foyer of the House of Commons, was supposed to start at 9 a.m. ET, but security officials made the call to let people in at 8:30 a.m.
People began arriving on Parliament Hill about an hour earlier and the line quickly grew to more than 100 people.
Local NDP MP Paul Dewar was there to greet people as they entered the House of Commons.
Jan Rourke was the second person in line and said she wanted to pay tribute to the inspiration Layton provided to Canadians.
"I'm remembering the moments that you'd see the twinkle in his eye when he was enjoying what he was doing, which was most of the time whether it was arguing in the House or meeting with the people," she said.
An estimated 4,000 people had stopped to see Layton's casket Wednesday, which sits on nearly the exact spot where he used to take reporters' questions when he left the House of Commons.
Layton's current and former MP colleagues, staff from the NDP and then Canadians waited in a line that went on from 11 a.m. until past 9 p.m. to say farewell. The doors of Parliament Hill stayed open until the last person had paid their respects, close to 10 p.m. The viewing runs from 9 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.Thursday.
At 2 p.m., RCMP pallbearers will carry the casket out the door to a waiting National Defence departure guard. A 15-gun salute will end the Ottawa portion of the memorial Thursday, followed by a round of O Canada on the Hill carillon. John Lennon's Imagine will also be played.
After leaving Parliament Hill, the hearse carrying Layton's casket will make a short and symbolic journey across the Ottawa River to Gatineau, Que.
The procession will travel down Laurier Street in front of the Canadian Museum of Civilization and Gatineau's city hall to salute Quebecers' support and affection for Layton, particularly in last spring's federal election. Layton was born in Hudson, Que., and his father represented a Quebec riding in the House of Commons.
A lying-in-state is a rare honour accorded to current and former governors general and prime ministers, as well as sitting cabinet ministers. But the prime minister can offer a state funeral, including a lying-in-state, to other eminent Canadians.
Lying-in-state is a tradition where the remains of the deceased rest on view, with a vigil, according to the Department of Canadian Heritage. Four constables from the House of Commons guard are positioned around the casket.
Layton will lie in repose at Toronto City Hall on Friday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and again on Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. The public is invited to pay respects and sign books of condolences.
His state funeral is set for 2 p.m. Saturday at Toronto at Roy Thomson Hall, which holds 2,500 people. Officials are making plans to accommodate the expected overflow.
MPs from all parties are hosting open houses throughout the week, offering books of condolence for their constituents to sign at their offices across the country. Those who want to express their sympathies or share stories about Layton but can't make it in person are encouraged to sign a virtual book of condolence on the NDP's website.
The NDP is asking for donations to the Broadbent Institute in memory of Layton in lieu of flowers.
The Broadbent Institute is an NDP-affiliated think tank that was announced at the party's 50th anniversary convention in June. It's named for former NDP leader Ed Broadbent, a close friend of Layton's.
363 page views
|
|
|
|