EDMONTON – The Alberta NDP will host a candlelight vigil Wednesday in honour of the late federal NDP Opposition Leader Jack Layton.
The vigil, on the legislature steps at 8 p.m., is one of many across the country, prompted the outpouring of sympathy and condolences after Layton’s death Monday from cancer.
“There has been a tremendous outpouring of sympathy. We have people asking us how they can show their respect,” Alberta NDP spokesman Richard Liebrecht said Monday afternoon. “There was no better way than putting on an event like this.
Liebrecht said the vigil is for people who respect Layton’s contribution to public life and want to pay tribute to him.
“We are hoping people put their politics aside and just come and celebrate the life of an important Canadian.”
Linda Duncan, Alberta’s lone NDP MP will speak at the vigil, as will Alberta NDP Leader Brian Mason and former party leader Raj Pannu.
The announcement came a short time after Layton’s family asked that, in lieu of flowers, supporters make donations to the Broadbent Institute. Former NDP leader Ed Broadbent is setting up a new institute to explore social democratic policy and ideas.
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