Full Layton funeral details
Posted Aug 24, 2011 07:53:08 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Details of NDP leader Jack Layton’s final arrangements have been released.
VISITATION ON PARLIAMENT HILL:
– WED: Dignitaries can starting arriving at 11 a.m.
– WED: Doors open to public 12:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
– THURS: Doors open to public 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Jack Layton’s casket left the Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home and Chapel in Toronto at 4 a.m., Wednesday.
Layton’s casket arrived at Parliament Hill just after 10:30 a.m. When Layton’s casket arrived, 15 bells played. Royalty get 21 bells, former Prime Ministers get 19 and others with the honour, like Layton, get 15.
The casket was carried to the foyer of the House of Commons by four pallbearers who are RCMP officers. There will be a constant vigil of five honour guards who are the security officers at the House of Commons. They will guard the casket day and night.
The casket will be closed and draped in a Canadian flag.
Layton’s partner, Olivia Chow, and his children, are in Ottawa for the visitation; they are arrived in the capital on their own. They were the first people to visit the casket at apx. 11 a.m.
New Democrat MP’s are expected to line the Rotunda to say goodbye to their leader. Some are going to extraordinary lengths to get to Parliament Hill for Wednesday. Chris Charlton is coming in from Germany and Nikki Ashton is cutting her honeymoon short to fly in from Greece.
Also in attendance on Parliament Hill will be interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel, Governor General David Johnston, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and a list that includes many others, which will be released later. Some provincial premiers and former prime ministers will likely be paying their respects.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is currently on an Arctic visit, so he was not in Ottawa for the arrival of Layton’s casket.
The public will be allowed to enter the Rotunda at 12:30 p.m., sign the official book of condolences, then make their way to the foyer to have their last moment with Jack.
When the casket leaves on Thursday, there will be a 15-gun salute. It will head back to Toronto by motorcade.
Visitations are scheduled for Friday and Saturday morning at Toronto City Hall.
Layton’s funeral will be at 2 p.m., Saturday. His casket will make the 1-km procession from Toronto City Hall to Roy Thompson Hall with a mounted patrol. The route is not mapped out yet.
Layton’s funeral service will be about an hour long, presided over by Reverend Brent Hawkes from the Metropolitan Church in Toronto. Screens for the public to watch will be set up in nearby David Pecaut Square.
An invitation-only reception will follow the funeral. After an hour at the reception, Layton’s family will drive to a private ceremony. The location is not known, but it is in Toronto.
Layton is being cremated.
Flags at government buildings will stay at half-mast until sundown on the day of Layton’s funeral.
