The Canada Atlas

Learn / People who shaped Canada

Jack Layton

NDP leader · 1950-2011

Jack Layton
Matt Jiggins · CC BY 2.0

Took the NDP to the official opposition for the first time and died three months later.

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Life story

  1. July 18, 1950 · Montreal
    Born in Montreal; his great-granduncle was a Father of Confederation
  2. 1982 · Toronto
    Elected to Toronto city council, where he worked on housing and AIDS policy
  3. January 25, 2003 · Toronto
    Won the NDP leadership on the first ballot
  4. May 2, 2011 · Montreal
    Won 103 seats, 59 of them in Quebec, and became leader of the official opposition
  5. August 22, 2011 · Toronto
    Died of cancer in Toronto; his last letter was read out across the country

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