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Jack Layton returns to City Hall

It was somber and almost still in front of City Hall Thursday night as several hundred people milled around awaiting the funeral cortege bringing the body of Jack Layton back to Toronto from Ottawa.

Olivia Chow, in the black dress to be forever associated with these sad events, wandered the square carefully reading the chalked love letters to Jack. After a full day of public events in Ottawa, she was still gracious, bestowing hugs and tired smiles. Mike Layton shook hands, thanked people for attending and said he hoped everyone would stay focused on finishing the job his father started out to do.

The mayor emerged from the Hall and in a rare moment, which undoubtedly will never be repeated, enfolded Chow in a bear-like embrace.

And then the lights from the cortege came around the corner into the square, the crowd clapped in dignified solidarity, and to the ringing of bike bells, Jack Layton returned for the last time to the seat of the city government he served so brilliantly.

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