Alayne McGregor
Both dignitaries and regular Centretown residents waited in long lines and packed the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre on January 28 to pay tribute to the late Ed Broadbent, the former federal NDP leader from 1975 to 1989.
He returned to political life to represent Ottawa Centre as MP from 2004 to 2006, campaigning with a rap video. He was a longtime Centretown resident.
Broadbent was remembered at the ceremony for his commitment to human rights and democracy, but also for always being willing to step up and help. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said at the ceremony that “Ed was a relentless force for good” and that he appealed to people’s “better angels.”
After leaving politics, he founded the Broadbent Institute to continue to promote his vision of social democracy, and worked for human rights around the world. Last year, he co-authored a book, Seeking Social Democracy: Seven decades in the fight for equality.
An online book of tributes contains many notes of appreciation from Ottawa residents as well as from across Canada, including many memories of meeting Broadbent and working on his campaigns. One tribute, signed “Janet and Louise,” remembered Broadbent as a Centretown neighbour, “chatting about his love of growing geraniums, funny & engaging as he did his own shopping locally – we are all in awe & grateful for Mr. Broadbent’s lifetime of commitment to equality & fairness for humanity World-wide & especially for Canadians, an honorable & very special man who will be greatly missed & should be a role model for everyone.”
“Diana” said she first learned that Broadbent lived on her street “when we crossed paths along the Rideau Canal in 2012. We chatted about felines, courtesy the presence of my own, and he told me about his cat, Pinot, who would be visited by a stray feline, he had nicknamed Grigio. Ed was friendly and engaging, caring and kind. We were blessed he loved Canadians enough to fight so hard for all of us.”
