When Burnaby resident Holly Page heard the news of Jack Layton's death and saw the outpouring of grief on social media sites like Twitter, she decided people needed a place to gather. So she called for a vigil at the Vancouver Art Gallery for Monday, Aug. 22 - the same day the New Democratic Party leader passed away from cancer.
"People all needed a place to go. That's why I did that, because I needed a place to go," Page said.
Roughly 1,000 people showed up to collectively mourn, according to Page. They were carrying candles and bottles and cans of Orange Crush, a makeshift symbol for the NDP's sweeping support in the last federal election. People talked, sang, cried and held each other. Someone brought a basket to collect messages of condolences for Layton's family.
"I couldn't believe the overwhelming support," Page said. "I knew that Jack Layton was a great man, but I didn't realize that so many people would come out to that event and make it happen."
Vancouver Kingsway MP Don Davies addressed the crowd, as did NewtonNorth Delta MP Jinny Sims and B.C. NDP leader Adrian Dix. Page works for the B.C. Government Employees' Union, but she's currently on vacation and organized the vigil on her own.
