The first time I met Jack was in 2006. I was pretty new to the whole political thing, and I decided to embark upon my activist quest by raiding an NDP pub night on enemy territory (aka University of Ottawa campus). I was chatting with the UofO NDP club President, when suddenly she looked at her phone and squealed “Oh my God, Jack and Olivia are coming and they’re on their way right now!!! Eeeeeeeee!!!!!!!” At that time I had absolutely no idea who Olivia was, or why it was so exciting that she was on her way. But I definitely knew who Jack was, and for that I may have partaken in the excited squealing just a little. In ten short minutes I would be shaking the hand of the legendary man behind “the stache”.
There have been a number of references to Jack being the party leader that people would most like to have a beer with, and let me tell you, drinking beer with Jack Layton lives up to the hype! I’ve had the privilege a few times over the years, and not only was he a great speaker, but a great listener as well. He was incredibly comfortable around young people, and in return young people were comfortable around him. He was engaging and charismatic, but most importantly he made you feel confident that somebody was going to stand up for you and your *kitchen table. (*If you are currently playing the Jack Layton drinking game this would be your cue to take a swig.)
I think one of the reasons Jack’s speeches made great drinking games is that he was the master of the soundbite. Like his name, he had a way of keeping things snappy and succinct. I recall some friends reliving his 2008 Leadership Debate zinger where he asked Harper if he was hiding his policies under his sweater vest. Or there was that incident in the 2011 debates when he told Iggy that most people can’t skip work and then ask for a promotion. Jack had a way with words and it helped *“ordinary Canadians” relate to him and want to drink beer with him. (*swig)
Moving ahead a few years, I had figured out who Olivia was, and also why a legit NDP should probably recognize the Trinity-Spadina MP (and wife of the NDP leader). I began working in her office in 2009 and she quickly became my superhero. During the funeral service they showed a video where Jack commented that it took him exactly four nanoseconds to fall in love with Olivia, but he had no idea what he was getting himself into. I think that’s the way everyone probably feels five nanoseconds after meeting Olivia. She is smart, she is cool, and she is notorious for moving faster than the speed of light. I learned more from 30 seconds in her office than I have in the rest of my life combined, not just about politics but about leadership. Working with her gave me a confidence I never had before because she challenges you to do things you didn’t realize you were capable of and then gives you the support you need to make it happen. She is truly one of those defining figures in my life, and also she bought me lunch.
A lot of people have commented on Olivia’s strength since Jack’s death, but knowing OC I can’t even imagine her any other way. This is the same Olivia Chow who dragged me to the gym at 7:00 in the morning, and while I was struggling through my sit-ups she was whipping through them like a pro while simultaneously typing furiously on her blackberry, which I’m pretty sure is actually surgically attached to her thumbs. I remember one time declaring on facebook that “Working for Olivia Chow is not just a job, it’s a lifestyle choice.”
Another of my favourite memories of Olivia was one time when Jack was speaking at a rally in front of Parliament. It was a pretty small gathering, and I can’t even remember what it was for, but I think it was something to do with bikes. What I remember was standing beside Olivia, and right after Jack delivered a fantastic speech she turned to me and quietly but glowingly said “Isn’t he amazing?” That is the moment that makes me know that, despite her calmness and strength, she is a woman who misses her husband an incredible amount right now.
I’ve had a lot of great Jack memories, but my favourite ones involved a week where I lived in his basement. One of the many perks of working for Olivia was getting to stay in their house when I travelled to the T-Dot to work in the Constituency Office. OC wasn’t around the house much because she is the single busiest human I have ever seen and I’m not entirely convinced she isn’t at least 1/8 robot. Jack was at home taking it easy because he was still recovering from prostate cancer. He didn’t really know me at the time, and I’m almost certain Olivia failed to warn him I was going to be staying there, so he seemed slightly surprised when I walked into his living room where he was watching the news and awkwardly asked him for the wifi code. He looked at me for a second, immediately accepted me as his newest adopted stray Hill staffer, and graciously gave me internet. I got the impression he’d had similar experiences in the past.
Throughout the week I was lucky enough to have several encounters with Jack, and I grew to respect him in a new way. Every time I saw him he was on his way out for a run, or putting a few miles on the stationary bike. I found it really admirable because here was this 60 year old man overcoming cancer constantly persevering and pushing himself to limits that most of us don’t even dream about. I think witnessing that was one thing that made his death particularly hard, knowing that he did everything in his power to beat it (including a diet of thousand year old eggs as exposed by Rick Mercer).
During the eulogies Jack was quoted as saying “Always have a dream that lasts longer than a lifetime.” What a beautiful message, and one that he embodied right to the end of his life. In his final year Jack reached unprecedented success. He rang in the NDP’s 50th Anniversary mere weeks after becoming the country’s Official Opposition party for the first time in NDP history. He gained over 60 seats and took the party to levels never before achieved. He saw his son Mike elected into office and his granddaughter Beatrice turn one. And as a testament to his unwillingness to back down on something he believed in, he concluded Canada’s 40th Parliamentary session with an epic 58 hour filibuster over Canadian labour rights.
Now, a month after his passing, his final words to the nation continue to resonate and inspire. “Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear.” Canada did not just lose one of its political leaders, it lost its favourite drinking buddy. And with that I raise a pint of union brew to hope and optimism that with his guidance “we’ll change the world”.
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