Procession, viewing, funeral details: Jack Layton

Former NDP Leader Jack Layton passed away on Monday, Aug. 22. The casket carrying his body was brought to Ottawa on Wednesday, where he will lie in state in Parliament Hill until Thursday.

He will be brought back to Toronto later on in the day, and will lie in repose in the City Hall rotunda until Saturday, with two public viewings taking place — one of Friday and one on Saturday. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Roy Thomson Hall. Below are the complete details.

Toronto-Ottawa
Wednesday morning

Layton’s casket left the Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home on Sherbourne Street, Wednesday at 4 a.m.

The procession headed along the Highway of Heroes route on Highway 401 with police guard to Ottawa. It then travelled on Highway 416 to Ottawa.

Ottawa
Wednesday and Thursday

The casket arrived in Ottawa at around 10:25 a.m.

When the casket arrived on Parliament Hill, 15 bells were played, as is tradition when those of honour, who are not royalty or former prime ministers, lie in state. Traditionally, royalty receive a 21-bell salute, while former prime ministers receive 19 bells.

Members of Layton’s family in attendance in Ottawa were his wife Olivia, daughter Sara Layton with her partner Hugh Campbell, Jack’s two-year-old granddaughter Beatrice Campbell, son Michael Layton with his fiance Brett Tryon, Layton’s first wife Sally Roy (mother of Michael and Sara) and accompanying the family will be Bob Gallagher who is Layton’s former Chief of Staff and a very good friend.

NDP MPs lined the rotunda to say their goodbyes to their leader.

The pall bearers were members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The casket was carried to the foyer of the House of Commons where had a constant vigil of five honour guards. The honour guards were the security officers at the House of Commons.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was not in attendance on Parliament Hill, as he is on an Arctic visit; however, he is expected to attend the funeral in Toronto on Saturday.

In Ottawa, a number of dignitaries showed up including Ed Broadbent, interim NDP leader Nycole Turmel, the governor general, and the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

The casket was closed and draped in a Canadian flag. Layton’s family had a private moment alone before other dignitaries pay their respects.

The lying-in-state for Layton took place in the foyer of the House of Commons on Wednesday and Thursday. It was open to the public on Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The public will be allowed to enter the rotunda, sign the official book of condolence, and then make their way to the foyer pay their final respects to the NDP leader.

Flags at government buildings will stay at half-mast until sundown on the day of Layton’s funeral.

Ottawa-Toronto
Thursday

When the casket left Parliament Hill for Toronto on Thursday, there was a 15-gun salute.

The hearse departedOttawa for Toronto at 2:30 p.m. The motorcade headed on the Alexandra Bridge and turn left on Laurier Street, in Gatineau, Que., proceeded to the Canadian Museum of Civilization and made a short stop there, before slowly passing by Gatineau City Hall.

After departing Quebec, the motorcade made its way back to Toronto, along Highway 416 and then along Highway 401. The hearse arrived at Toronto City Hall at around 9:45 p.m.

The casket was brought into the City Hall rotunda — where he will lie in repose on Friday and early Saturday — by pallbearers from the Toronto Police Service. A vigil guard was mounted by Toronto police.

Toronto
Friday

A viewing for Layton will be held at Toronto City Hall on Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Saturday

A second public viewing will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

In honour of Layton, the CN Tower will be lit in orange on Saturday from sunrise to sundown. Flags at City Hall, Metro Hall, East York Civic Centre, Etobicoke Civic Centre, North York Civic Centre and York Civic Centre will remain lowered until Saturday evening.

For those wishing to attend the State Funeral, limited seating will be available to the general public.  Members of the public are invited to line up on King Street West outside Roy Thomson Hall. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, bracelets will be handed out to approximately the first 600 people in line. Bracelet holders can then return to the same lineup area on King Street West by noon, at which time they will receive an assigned seat ticket and will be able to proceed inside the hall.

The funeral for Layton will be held at Roy Thomson Hall at 2 p.m. Details below:

Funeral details
12:45 p.m. – Pallbearers will bring the casket outside City Hall followed by family. Procession consists of a mounted unit along with the Toronto Police Service’s pipes and drums.

1 p.m. – Funeral cortege departs City Hall for Roy Thomson Hall. Citytv will provide full coverage of the funeral starting at 1 p.m. The service itself begins at 2 p.m.

Procession route is as follows:

• West on Queen Street
• South on University Avenue
• West on King Street
• South on Simcoe Street

NOTE: A section of the downtown core from Bay to John streets and Queen to Wellington streets will be closed on Saturday from noon until 5 p.m.

1:30 p.m. – Funeral cortege arrives at the front entrance of Roy Thomson Hall.

2 p.m. – Funeral service begins; service is estimated to last one hour. Ed Broadbent has been announced as one of the pallbearers. There will only be 800 seats inside for the public.  Four video screens will be set up outside in David Pecaut Square to the west of Roy Thomson Hall for the overflow crowds.

3 p.m. – At conclusion of the service, the casket will be taken outside to the hearse. It’s not yet confirmed where the hearse will go once it leaves Roy Thomson Hall.

3-5 p.m. – Reception at Roy Thomson Hall; closed to media.