What should Toronto name in memory of Jack Layton?

The wind turbine at Exhibition Place.

re-build and re-name the peace garden that was removed from Nathan Phillips Square for the construction.

... What's drawn next to his face in pink..?

An affordable housing complex, a park, a bike lane - this is the kind of stuff Jack stood for so this is what should be named in his honour. Not Dundas Square.

How about renaming the City's tax collection department after him? Nothing seems more appropriate to his vision.

I think what he's done in the last 5 months alone for the political landscape in canada - reinvigorating it, bringing both hope and accountability to it - will be felt for years to come. nevermind his years of work before that.

I believe it's worth a tribute of significance.

A dedicated bike line is a great idea as is an affordable housing complex or a park. I agree that it should be a new initiative (not a re-naming of something existing).

Were you born and raised in the original city of Toronto? I'm thinking not, because if you were, you'd get it. Jack Layton was US. He was a forward-thinking, community-minded person who believed in the potential of this country. He CARED. THAT is what Canada is supposed to be about, and since he lived among us in Toronto, we all feel a great sense of loss and want to honour him in some permanent, meaningful way. Really, it has nothing to do with him being the leader of whatever party, whenever or however. It has to do with the person he was.

Argh - that was supposed to be general comment, not a reply.

If we’re using number of years in city politics we should start the discussion of what we name after Rob Ford. Layton was a councilor for ~17 years while Mayor Ford will be 14 years deep at the end of his term in office. Honor Mr. Layton but let’s not turn him into a saint.

A statue on the Danforth.

I'm not personally thrilled with the idea of renaming Y-D Square - it does feel too commercial/tacky. I'd prefer a more civic place, a park, government building/space, etc. It would seem appropriate in his riding, or perhaps Olivia's, where they lived.

(I heard wind of a movement to rename Nathan Phillip Square itself, which I really can't condone. It doesn't seem particularly "Jack" to hijack a space that is already a tribute to someone else.)

How about we all finish his dream and put the NDP in power

I see what you're saying, but part of it is that he died relatively young, and when he was on the brink of something possibly historic. Sure, he was never Mayor, and maybe not the most influential Councillor of his day (though he might have been). But it is a life that was cut short, that's worth commemorating.

That said, there are other late Torontonians who don't have anything named for them. I'm not suggesting Layton get in line, but Toronto would do well to look at its past too.

I agree with Jason, this guy was a career politician. If he did anything for the city of Toronto is was to benefit his personal career. I can think of dozens of other people worthy of a tribute named in their honor. Im not saying we shouldnt pay tribute but lets cal a spade, a spade.

Nothing.

How about the Jack Layton Private Health Care Clinic? Seems appropriate since he used them so often. Or maybe we should name the Island Airport bridge after him, you know - something that was promised but never materialized, just like everything he ever proposed during his political career. I don't want to seem seem all negative here, I had beers with the man and found him to be as nice as anyone, but all these calls for naming things after him are reactionary and dismiss the fact that he didn't actually accomplish many concrete things for Toronto or Canadians, he just fought against things the majority of us wanted.

Rename all Scotiabanks.

I did google it Michael, just to make sure I wasn't mistaken. You know what I found? Nothing. All his "accomplishments" were political races (and he lost a great deal of those as well), not legislation that helped his constituents. I found that a lot of his work on Toronto City Council, especially in his early days, worked directly against it's greater good. It's nice for his supporters to spout his ideals ("a greener Canada! More community housing!, bigger pensions!), but those are not accomplishments, and in his case, it was often just empty rhetoric, since he knew outright it's not something Canada can realistically afford (even less so if his economic plan was put into place). Did he believe in his values? Sure he did. Did he truly want what was best for Canadians? Without a doubt. Did he actually do anything realistic to achieve it? Not that I can see or remember. So if I'm mistaken Michael, please, post his legacy, cause google and my personal recollection from growing up in Toronto can't find it. (and please don't mention the wind turbine. It's a nice landmark that does nothing for us energy production wise- and depending on who you believe, it could be detrimental to our health.)

If these are his legacy, then he was a bigger failure than we all thought.

Layton's life was dedicated to giving every special interest group whatever they wanted at the expense of people who actually work hard for a living. He was no Robin Hood, he was just trying to line the pockets of those who make money off the poverty and government grant industries.

How about a massage parlour? Someone had to say it...

Really? Is that the Daily Bread Food Bank that spends 85% of it's budget on salaries rather than food?

It's sad that he helped create an industry where people could get reach pretending to help the poor.

How about we name that subsidized co-op that he was living in with his six figure HHI the Jack Layton Commons? Or perhaps the Velvet Touch Rub and Tug could be renamed Jack's Favourite Rub? Please people, this is getting ridiculous. He was leader of a last place party that happened to be the last party standing when the liberals and the bloc imploded (due to their failures not his party's strenth.) He couldn't even conjure enough support to win his seat the first two times he tried to get elected as an MP, and worst of all he was the most significant player responsible for screwing Toronto's Olympic bid which harmed this city immensely. Collect your teddy bear tributes, put them in a box, and bring them out for the next celebrity passing. Leave the morning for the people who cared for him and believed in him prior to last week.

Wow. This confirms this quote over at yahoo.com I read yesterday:



"So sad, too bad . . . Wahhhhhhhhhh

So where will the bronze statue be placed? When does the Laytoonie come out? When does Yonge Street get renamed to "Layton Way"? When does a subway station get renamed? When do we rename one of the great lakes? When does the ottawa airport get renamed? When do we all get to use Layton postage stamps? Where does the eternal flame get built? Where do i get a Layton coffee mug and dinner ware? When does the Layton dvd get released? When does the layton mini-series begin on tv? When does the Layton movie get released? When does the CN Tower get renamed? Does the Layton Fan Club know the answers? LOL!!!"

all of the negative comments about Jack are absolutely disgusting. it is truly shameful that some people have ZERO class and taste when it comes to respecting the dead. Jack Layton was GOOD man who did GOOD things. Enough already.

I meant to type "our country OR Toronto".

well Blogto is troll heaven of little boys who live in their mama's basement, what do you expect?