Hundreds get tickets for Layton funeral after many wait overnight in line

Dozens of people are already lining up outside Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto for Jack Layton’s state funeral, and some waited overnight to get a coveted spot.

Organizers have handed out 600 wristbands to members of the public and an area with large video screens is being set up behind the hall to accommodate the expected overflow crowd.

People are still flocking in droves to pay their final respects to Layton during the last public visitation at City Hall before his funeral this afternoon.

Police are also in the process of moving into position to block downtown streets for the procession.

Veteran Rick Harrison, who spent much of Friday and overnight at Roy Thomson Hall, was first in line to get a coveted ticket to be inside to witness the state funeral.

The military veteran, who was also first in line to pay his respects to Layton at City Hall, says he felt compelled to attend.

“Jack would have done it for others, and would have wanted it that way,” said the visibly tired Harrison, his voice shaky.

Behind him was a couple from Parry Sound, Ont., who travelled to Toronto to show respect for someone they feel is a political hero.

Dianna Allen said Layton touched people personally.

“We really admired his leadership,” she said. “We wanted the world to know that he was truly loved and respected.”

“To me, he started the healing process for the country by bringing so many Quebec supporters back to a federal party.”

Layton died Monday at the age of 61, just weeks after revealing he had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer.

His state funeral will be attended by about 1,700 invited guests and 600 members of the public who lined up for tickets.

Layton’s coffin will be brought to Roy Thomson Hall by a procession through downtown Toronto. It will be led by horse-mounted police, followed by pipe and drum bands and an honour guard.

Eulogies at the service are to be delivered by Stephen Lewis, the New Democrat Party’s Karl Belanger and Layton’s children Mike and Sarah.

In keeping with the NDP leader’s wishes, those in attendance will be asked to write down something they’ll do to make the world a better place.

State funerals are a somewhat rare occurrence in Canada, with just 34 other state funerals put on by the federal government since 1868.

Distinct elements of state funerals can vary, as the deceased person’s family makes those decisions in consultation with the government. But they are by definition public funerals organized and administered by the government in co-ordination with the family.

State funerals generally include a lying-in-state, a procession and some military honours.

Normally they are accorded only to current and former prime ministers, current cabinet ministers and governors general, but Prime Minister Stephen Harper used his discretion to offer one to Layton’s family.

Layton’s death on Monday touched off an extraordinary outpouring of national grief, not often seen in Canada.

Thousands of people have lined up for hours for the chance to spend a few seconds paying their respects at his lying-in-state, split between Parliament Hill in Ottawa and Toronto City Hall, where Layton began his career as a city politician.

People have set up makeshift memorials at his Toronto home and constituency office, often marked by orange flowers, the colour associated with the New Democratic Party.

Cans of Orange Crush have been left by the public to symbolize the wave that swept the NDP to Official Opposition status in the May 2 federal election.

Heartfelt messages in tribute of Layton are still being scrawled in coloured chalk all over the grounds of City Hall.

Niagara Falls, an iconic symbol of Canada, will be illuminated in orange at various times Saturday night and the CN Tower will also be to be lit in orange from sundown Saturday until sunrise Sunday in honour of the late NDP leader.