I can see Roy Thompson hall is full. Not many funerals I have attended pack the hall. Jack was certainly well know, and had meet a lot of people who liked him.

I have nevr seen so many musicians at a funeral. The most I have seen was at  My grandmother's funeral. She  had the entire choir turn out at the Montague United Church, she had been the orgainst, for over 30 years there.

I did not know that his great grandfather was also a muscians, and had a compagny in the music business.

I nevr heard this tune before. van Morrision Into the Mystic.

It is very nice.

from Wiki

"Into the Mystic" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and featured on his 1970 album Moondance. It was also included on Morrison's 1974 live album, It's Too Late To Stop Now.

The song has a soothing, calm, medium-paced tempo. It is among the most popular songs doctors listen to while operating, according to a survey made by BBC.^[1]

^​The lyrics are about a spiritual quest, typical of Morrison's work. "Bass thrums like a boat in motion, and the song comes back to water as a means of magical transformation."^[3] "At the very end Van sings: too late to stop now, suggesting that the song also describes an act of love."

brent hawkes looks old to me./ I first meet him in the early eighties and last saw him at the convention that elected Alexa, leader of the NDP in the 90s. Old age or and early death is the destiny of us all.

Hi Alex - I am also watching this online.

I think I am more comfortable watching this alone than with a group. Due to my autism/add, others can be distracting to me, and at the same time I do not feel alone because I know others are reading my thoughts

Beautiful rendition of O Canada.

I have many friends/people I know  at the service, including two pall bears, who I meet in the 80's. Alexa and Bob.  No family there, but supposedly Harper is a distant cousin on my mother side, while the GG is a distant cousin on my fathers side.

Fascinating watching Shawn Atleo and the rituals he's performing and listening to his moving words.

this makes me remember the First nation drummers who participated at the funeral of Mrs Brack, the mother of a friend of mine I went to Boy Scouts with.

Very nice.

Shawn Atleo's offering was beautiful.

Brent's humour around the colour and his introduction really sets up the multiple purposes of the funeral.

The sound and the video are not well synced up on the cbc news web site.  

I am using this link and it seems to be working well: http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/Shows/1221254309/ID=2081313264

Now i am crying. Croire (believe) was a wonderful choice of music for jack.

Thanks somegal i will try it.

Boy it sure pays off to know NDP organisers when quickly preparing a wedding or a funeral. This is really impressive. Just like my friends Barry and Robs funeral, things just get done that I would nerve think of.

nice shot of Tommy Douglas's daughter

Wow Stephen really got to the heart of jack's letter.

Any United church ministers involved?

None yet (that I know of at least)

As far as I've seen the only clergy involved is Brent Hawkes. I don't think any of the readers were clergy.

Wonderful eulogies from his children.

Jack's son and daughter have given the most impressive eulogies. Jack would be proud

The eulogies from Sarah and Mike were especially moving - there is a tear rolling down my cheek as I type this.

Thought Stephen Page started out a bit off on "Hallelujah" but he's got the feeling now.

Hallelujah, by Leonard Cohen, is one of my favourite songs. It was sung at a church service just after a good friend of mine passed away and since then it has always brought a tear to my eye. How wonderful to see Steven Page reunite with one of his former BareNaked Ladies bandmates, Kevin Hearn, to perform it.

How fitting to that as in life, jack also brings people together in his death

"I believe how I live my life every day is my act of worship"

--Jack Layton

Such an organized Celebration of Life -- I adore 'funerals' like this where people can clap and laugh if they want to.

"I believe how I live everyday is my act of worship"  - Jack Layton

We trust God - Rev. Brent Hawkes

Amen!

jinx Alex :3

His mention of TG reminds me that TG is mainstream now, because the other day I heard a KIA ad on the radio that mentioned TG in the same casual way as mentioning 'his car'.

My Opa, Laddie, was a hooge NDP supporter.  If he were alive, he'd be watching this.

Rise up was jack's favourite song.

LOL - Stephen Harper looked so uncomfortable just now during "Rise Up."

Thought Brent Hawkes - when he mentioned his conversation with Jack in which Jack acknowledged mistakes and hoped others had forgiven him - could have made some reference to the grace of God - that even as Jack sought forgiveness from others, forgiveness had already been given by God. (Occupational hazard - as a minister I critique the funerals done by other ministers and how I would have done them differently!)

Otherwise, the focus was on the gospel of social transformation; the hope for a better society. It was very appropriate.

"And now, it's up to us..."

-- Rev. Brent Hawkes

Wise words, the various authorites have given us the finger, the rules and laws and methods to gain peace and we shouldn't rely on them to save us, no matter if it is our parents or Jesus or the government, but it is up to each of us, working together...

Another well chosen song!

Love is but the song we sing, 
And fear's the way we die 
You can make the mountains ring 
Or make the angels cry 
Know the dove is on the wing 
And you need not know why 
C'mon people now, 
Smile on your brother 
Ev'rybody get together 
Try and love one another right now 
Some will come and some will go 
We shall surely pass 
When the one that left us here 
Returns for us at last 
We are but a moments sunlight 
Fading in the grass 
C'mon people now, 
Smile on your brother 
Ev'rybody get together 
Try and love one another right now 
If you hear the song I sing, 
You must understand 
You hold the key to love and fear 
All in your trembling hand 
Just one key unlocks them both 
It's there at your command 
C'mon people now, 
Smile on your brother 
Ev'rybody get together 
Try and love one another right now 
Right now 
Right now!

Impressed by the presence of so many Conservative Cabinet ministers. I knew Harper would be there, but didn't expect so many of the Cabinet. One face I didn't see was Bob Rae. Was he there?

Wow. What a service. and thank you to everyone who watched along with me and either just read, or contributed to the discussion on wondercafe. It was helpful to have my faith sustained, and  to know I was not alone, not invisible, and not cared for.  Thank you.

I di not see Bob rae, but Iggy was there.

Perhaps Bob was too uncomfortable, after the reaction he received after he tore a strip off Jack on the day jack died, for being too political even on the day he died, and had arranged to released his letter.

Citizens,

any inspirations from this Celebration of Life for your own ones, when it happens?

I thought I saw Bob Rae at the end there shaking hands with people.

Was a privilege to share this with you, Alex. Hope it was of some comfort to you. I know you've been quite affected by Jack Layton's life and death. God bless.

Thank you Rev Stephen. i found your comments made me feel less alone.

I agree Rev. Steven - thanks for opening this thread Alex.

It is a good idea to have NDP organisers involved.

I'd also like to thank the various corporate sponsors that made it possible for us to watch this particular event.  The products in the ads are the particular corporate sponsors.

Like

proglide

pampers

covergirl

febreze

I think Prime Minister Martin captured well the inspiration of the funeral service and explained on CBC News, why it was only natural for jack's funeral, letter, and death to be political. he did not find it offensive at all, but only natural and in the spirit of Jack.

He also stated how one can have differences, but at the core have the same goals as Jack.

Olivia Chow and the family of the late NDP leader Jack Layton walk over a chalk drawing of a mustache as they follow his funeral procession as it leaves City Hall for Roy Thomson Hall, in Toronto on Saturday.