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Speaking of the Layton Funeral
Aug. 28th, 2011 02:36 pmStephen Lewis' eulogy:
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1045918
Eulogies by Rev. Brent Hawkes and Sarah and Michael Layton:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1045969--transcript-of-eulogies-by-rev-brent-hawkes-and-sarah-and-michael-layton
Back in a little bit with some thoughts, assuming I can pull such thoughts together...
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1045918
Eulogies by Rev. Brent Hawkes and Sarah and Michael Layton:
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1045969--transcript-of-eulogies-by-rev-brent-hawkes-and-sarah-and-michael-layton
Back in a little bit with some thoughts, assuming I can pull such thoughts together...
After the Visitation
Aug. 25th, 2011 12:43 pmArrived downtown at 7 AM and saw no line-up at first, and so I wandered around the neighbourhood doing a little shopping and committing a more substantial breakfast at the Presse Café in the Ottawa Broadcast Centre on Queen Street before heading back up the Hill.
After taking some pictures of the informal shrine near the Centennial Flame, I then visited the Cat Sanctuary for a few minutes. It was a surprise to learn that the donation box has been sealed up, complete with a "No donations please" message taped over the box. No idea what's happened in the last couple of months, but the notion is a sad and unpleasant one.
At least the cats, with one rather irregular-looking exception, all seem to be healthy enough.
Okay...8:15 AM, and the line's visibly forming on the other side of the Hill from the Cat Sanctuary, so I march on over to join it. The doors opened a half-hour earlier than announced and we start marching or rolling in. Paul Dewar, MP for Ottawa-Centre and current Foreign Affairs critic in the NDP shadow cabinet, was there to give everyone a "thank you" as best he could, and I do wish we could have talked further on any number of topics.
But the line had to keep moving, so onward we all went.
After a few minutes of dealing with airport-style security screening - something we didn't have to deal with when Trudeau died! - it was upstairs to the House of Commons foyer after a stop to sign one of the books of condolence awaiting us all. And if you've been watching Canadian news at all, you've seen the pictures of the foyer itself with the casket and the honour guard.
After that, it was past the hall of Prime Ministerial portraits again and out the front door.
Managed to keep the tears down until I got to Wellington Street. I wasn't sure that I'd make it that far.
Good-bye, Jack.
I'm sorry I never met you.
After taking some pictures of the informal shrine near the Centennial Flame, I then visited the Cat Sanctuary for a few minutes. It was a surprise to learn that the donation box has been sealed up, complete with a "No donations please" message taped over the box. No idea what's happened in the last couple of months, but the notion is a sad and unpleasant one.
At least the cats, with one rather irregular-looking exception, all seem to be healthy enough.
Okay...8:15 AM, and the line's visibly forming on the other side of the Hill from the Cat Sanctuary, so I march on over to join it. The doors opened a half-hour earlier than announced and we start marching or rolling in. Paul Dewar, MP for Ottawa-Centre and current Foreign Affairs critic in the NDP shadow cabinet, was there to give everyone a "thank you" as best he could, and I do wish we could have talked further on any number of topics.
But the line had to keep moving, so onward we all went.
After a few minutes of dealing with airport-style security screening - something we didn't have to deal with when Trudeau died! - it was upstairs to the House of Commons foyer after a stop to sign one of the books of condolence awaiting us all. And if you've been watching Canadian news at all, you've seen the pictures of the foyer itself with the casket and the honour guard.
After that, it was past the hall of Prime Ministerial portraits again and out the front door.
Managed to keep the tears down until I got to Wellington Street. I wasn't sure that I'd make it that far.
Good-bye, Jack.
I'm sorry I never met you.
