I spent my Saturday afternoon at a public viewing of Jack Layton’s funeral. I expected it to be good, I was particularly looking forward to hearing Stephen Lewis who is always a well-spoken and rousing speaker. But I also expected some less interesting parts where I would be looking outside wondering what I was doing watching a funeral of someone I’d never met on television.

I was blown away. Not only did I not long to be outdoors, at times I forgot that I wasn’t actually in Toronto at the funeral. Lewis’ eulogy was incredibly inspiring as was the eulogy of the Reverend Brent Hawkes. Martin Deschamps, Steven Page and Lorraine each perfectly reflected the mood of the funeral when it came their turns to sing. Below I’ll post Lewis’ and Hawkes’ eulogies.

Lewis’ closing was particularly stirring. He quoted from Arundhati Roy:

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day I can hear her breathing.