It was a week of mourning for Canadians across the country - and locally - for federal NDP leader Jack Layton.
Layton's state funeral was held in Roy Thomson Hall Saturday afternoon in Toronto, capping a week of mourning for the longtime social democratic politician and leader of the Opposition. He died of cancer Aug. 22 at age 61.
The week saw Layton lie in state in the halls of Parliament in Ottawa before returning to Toronto Friday. The procession Saturday saw the streets in Toronto filled with mourners and supporters paying their final respects.
Closer to home, mourners were able to sign condolence books set up in a number of locations in the Battlefords, including at City Hall in North Battleford and Sallows and McDonald/Wilson and Zehner funeral home.
A book of condolence was also set up at the legislative assembly in Regina, as well as at the NDP's provincial office in Regina. Condolences were also being accepted online by the federal NDP on their website.
Locally, Battlefords MLA Len Taylor's office accepted cards of condolence for Layton, to be forwarded to the federal party office to be given to the family.
Speaking Thursday to the News-Optimist, Taylor described his own reaction to the news of the passing of the NDP leader.
"My first reaction when I heard the news was great sadness," said Taylor, who had believed and was optimistic that Layton would beat cancer.
"That sadness, of course, then moved to a sense of loss - felt a little numb, actually, because I have a great fondness and caring for Jack Layton. He was a strong individual who I think was in the right place at the right time on the political scale."
He said not only has Layton's family lost an important person in their lives, but Canada has "lost an important person in all our lives."
Taylor had never directly worked with Layton - the former MP had served in Parliament before Layton became leader - but he had met Layton on numerous occasions and said he always demonstrated an understanding of the issues.
"What I liked about Jack Layton the most is that although he's a principled individual and his desire for Canadians is based on his principle, he uses his principle to develop consensus and co-operation. And on the basis of that he's able to move issues forward."
Taylor reflected on the period of time when Layton led the NDP in minority parliaments - a period when Layton was able to play a key role as a power broker.
"I think Jack understood minority government and I think he understood the people making decisions," said Taylor. As a result of that "he was able to make some progress for all of us."
"Part of our sense of loss now is that he's not there when some really important decisions have to be made," Taylor said.
Taylor has also spoken to other New Democrats, as well as non-New Democrats, and has encountered a similar reaction to the news.
"The feeling seems to be the same," said Taylor, with people sharing their "sense of sadness and loss, but at the same time recognizing that this was an individual who was more than the leader of the New Democratic Party, he was an individual who could represent the common person regardless of their political beliefs."
As for the future of the NDP and the leadership contest to take place, Taylor believes is not the immediate focus of New Democrat members. Right now, he said, the focus was on paying the final respects.
