Jack Layton's state funeral
CBC News provided live coverage of NDP Leader Jack Layton's state funeral on Saturday. Our reporters filed up-to-the-minute updates from Toronto City Hall, outside Roy Thomson Hall and David Pecaut Square, where hundreds gathered to watch the memorial on giant video screens. Read through to see how the day unfolded.
Toronto is shrouded in fog this Saturday morning. (Amber Hildebrandt/CBC News)
- Jack Layton is currently lying in repose at Toronto City Hall. Members of the public are invited to visit his casket between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- Meanwhile, hundreds were lined up outside Roy Thomson Hall by 7 a.m.. They're hoping to be among 600 people who will receive special bracelets that will allow them to attend the funeral, which begins at 2 p.m.
Richard Harrison, a retired Air Force pilot, is the first in line to receive a bracelet to gain entrance to the funeral. He arrived here at 1:15 pm yesterday and hasn't slept at all. He was also the first person in line for the visitation yesterday. That's devotion.
- An official here tells me there's about 700 to 800 people lined up here, more than are expected to be allowed in.
- CBC Radio's Jasmine Seputis was also outside Roy Thomson Hall during this morning's World Report and described the crowds gathered there.
The line, or at least part of it.
Marie Cardinal shows off the purple band she's been waiting for since 8 p.m. last night. Why wait all night for this? She met Layton. "He was very nice, very kindhearted," she says.
Security now handing out 600 bracelets as placeholders for public seating at Layton funeral. #jl yfrog.com
by cbcdaveseglins via twitter 8/27/2011 12:17:57 PM
The lineup at City Hall now stretches around the building. A short window to view casket today #jl yfrog.com
by cbcsteve via twitter 8/27/2011 12:20:47 PM- Sebastian Sage, 17, has been here since midnight. Him and his friends slept in a tent. On why he's here: "It's a big historical event . It's something I can say I was there."
- Here is the finalized route from City Hall to Roy Thomson Hall: The procession will travel west on Queen Street West, south on University Avenue, west on King Street West and south on Simcoe Street. The procession is slated to begin at 1:15 and should take a half an hour.
- Good morning all. I'm en route soon to T.O. for Jack Layton's funeral. Plane boarding in about 10 minutes #jlby Fitzpatrick_m via twitter 8/27/2011 12:27:03 PM
NDP MP Charlie Angus, who is also a musician, says it's fitting that so many performers are playing at Jack Layton' funeral because he was passionate about the arts.
- Talking to a group of people at the end of the lineup who just arrived a few minutes ago. "I'm a little worried but I'm hoping I can just skim it," admits John Rider, who took public transit from Etobicoke this morning. "This is one of those times when I wish I wish they put card-carrying members first," adds Taraneh Rezvani, who's been a NDP member for three years.
The end of the line.
- 600 will be let in. Hearing 750 are in line. there will be some disappointed people today.
- I'm bumping into a number of people I met yesterday at the visitation.
Melissa Dupuis + Troy Roach from Stratford, ON lined up for covetted public spot at #jl funeral. yfrog.com
by cbcdaveseglins via twitter 8/27/2011 12:42:35 PM- Someone just walked by and asked an official what's going on. "Jack Layton funeral," he said. Not the usual event to receive such crowds.
Officials put on the bracelets.
The scene in Nathan Phillips sq. Just as the fog was burning off. #ripjack #jl yfrog.com
by PatMorrell_CBC via twitter 8/27/2011 12:50:45 PM- Vivian Snead says she knew Jack for 30 years. He was her politics professor, she helped him campaign and they kept in touch. "It's hard," she says. But she's in the first 100 or so and relieved to be here.
Wrist bands being distributed outside RTH. Crowd is patient and sober amid the flurry of journalists. #jl #ripjack yfrog.com
by PatMorrell_CBC via twitter 8/27/2011 12:52:05 PM
A plastic container attached to a post-and-ring bike rack, filled with soil and a flower. Tied with orange ribbon. Fitting tribute to the man who helped create the post.
- "Before you go to line, I just want you to know that we've already exceeded the 600 number," an official warns a group walking toward the end of the line.
- Some very disappointed folks in line being told they won't get one of 600 seats for #jl funeral. Though more public spots may be announced.by cbcdaveseglins via twitter 8/27/2011 12:59:34 PM
- Frustration among those who stood in line but are now learning they might not get in. Shahreen Reza says officials told those at the 600 cutoff but not beyond. "It's really poor organization. I'm really frustrated with this." But Stewart McIntosh has a different perspective. "It was still worth it. It doesnt diminish the experience. Because we're here to celebrate Jack."
- Clapping and shrieks of joy by some who thought they wouldn't make it, but did.
- Exchange of hugs among people who stood in line together.
- "We did it," exclaims one guy who just got a bracelet. "Hope optimism and courage," he adds, after hugging his companions in line. "It's so worth it to be part of the experience. It's like there's a but of jack in all of us."
- "This is it! This is it!" a Roy Thomson official says to her staff, telling them to direct people that the bracelets are almost done.
- Still stuck at Ottawa airport, with CBC colleagues Terry Milewski, Peter Harris, Paul Bisson, Tom Parry #jlby Fitzpatrick_m via twitter 8/27/2011 1:18:48 PM
- Those in lineup are being told: The 600 bracelets have been handed out. They can wait in hope a few more seats open up, but no guarantees.
Ali Vocal was the last to receive a bracelet. "I'm quite surprised actually. We came relatively late."
- Some of those who didn't make the cutoff are sticking around on the chance that more seats will open up. Others are sticking around because seats are first-come, first-served for bracelet holders. But much of the crowd is gone.
- "There's hope. There may be more armbands!" Melissa Morgan says, sitting and waiting outside Roy Thomson.
- For those without armbands, live coverage of the funeral begins at 1 p.m. ET on both CBC Television and CBC News Network. We'll also be streaming it here live on CBCNews.ca.
- A bit more detail on the procession route's start: The procession will begin from the front door of City Hall and proceed down City Hall Driveway, which is parallel to Bay, between Osgoode Hall and Nathan Phillips Square.
(Patrick Morrell/CBC)
- The CBC's Alison Smith, Michael Enright and Chris Hall will also be hosting live coverage on CBC Radio 1 beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
We'll also have reporters at key points across downtown Toronto, including City Hall, Roy Thomson Hall and David Pecaut Square. - 100 extra bands are being handed out to a relieved crowd. How is this possible? Official says they opened up after checking the invitation only numbers expected to attend.
That's where the CBC's Anne-Marie Mediwake is this morning, and where hundreds are expected to gather today to watch the funeral on giant video screens.
Elizabeth Gordon, 62, got here at 930 and didn't expect to get a wristband. "Yeah!" she exclaimed when officials opened up more spots. She doesn't care where she's seated. "It could be in the ceiling." Jack was important to her. "He was an advocate for our health care union. He loved people. He made himself totally visible."
- In the clip below, Anne-Marie talks about the chalk tributes left for Layton Nathan Phillips Square, outside city hall. They began appearing on Monday afternoon, hours after Layton's death was announced. The CBC's multimedia created a really neat photo interactive that magnifies some of the messages that were left.
Top News Headlines
- Woman in wheelchair robbed of iPad on B.C. SkyTrain
- A woman in a wheelchair who is deaf and has cerebral palsy was assaulted and robbed while on B.C.'s SkyTrain, and police have released surveillance video of two suspects that they hope will lead to arrests. more »
- Ontario police complaint watchdog to release G20 report
- Ontario's independent police complaints watchdog is set to release a 300-page report later today looking at complaints about provincial and local police conduct during the G20 summit in Toronto two years ago. more »
- Neil Macdonald: 2 billion reasons to regulate America's banks
- Fair or not, JPMorgan's surprise $2-billion loss is spurring the demand for more Wall Street oversight, and not a moment too soon, Neil Macdonald writes. more »
- EI rules need 'teeth' to get people to work, Finley says
- Human Resources Minister Diane Finley said Tuesday that the government is trying to remove disincentives in the employment insurance system and add more "teeth" to the rules. more »