ADVISORY: OFL to Unveil Life-Sized Bronze Statue of Jack Layton at Toronto's Waterfront

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Aug. 21, 2013) - The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) will unveil a beautiful bronze sculpture of Jack Layton on the second anniversary of the passing of the beloved NDP leader, in tribute to Jack's dedication to working people across Canada. The event will also mark the City of Toronto's official renaming of the Toronto Island Ferry Terminal as the "Jack Layton Ferry Terminal."

OFL Officers Sid Ryan, Nancy Hutchison and Irwin Nanda and the generous donors, comprised primarily of labour unions, who made the monument possible will present the statue to members of Jack Layton's family and representatives of the City of Toronto, as a gift from the labour movement to the people of Canada.

Entitled, "Jack's got your back. Stronger Together: The Layton Memorial," the life-sized bronze statue Jack Layton sitting on the back seat of a tandem bicycle, with room on the front seat for visitors to have their picture taken riding with Jack. The sculpture was created by master sculptor David Pellettier and the renowned team at MST Bronze Limited, under the careful guidance of Olivia Chow. The City of Toronto is supporting this touching memorial by donating land on Toronto's waterfront for the monument to be erected.

"No one will miss the significance of Jack riding in the back seat of the bicycle because Canadians know that Jack always had their back," said OFL President Sid Ryan. "We hope that this statue serves as a reminder of Jack's positive message that inspired so many ordinary working people to dream of a better life, a better world and a brighter future."

The Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) represents 54 unions and one million workers in Ontario. For information, visit www.OFL.ca and follow the OFL on Facebook and Twitter: @OFLabour.