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Jack Layton's signature from 2008.The Globe and Mail

Jack Layton's last letter to Canadians touched hearts across the country. Handwriting experts say his signature on that letter reveals an unflagging ambition and sense of optimism that endured to his last days.

"His consistently dynamic personality was evident no matter what he went through," said Elaine Charal, a certified handwriting analyst who compared Mr. Layton's deathbed signature with a document he signed three years earlier. "He was just as dynamic and driven on his last day as he was in 2008."

Ms. Charal said the signatures reveal Mr. Layton as an optimist, a natural leader who was guided by "very high principles and values," and someone who "believed in who he was, what he stood for and what he did."

U.S.-based handwriting expert Marc Seifer added that the "clarity and simplicity" of Mr. Layton's signature suggest that he possessed a scientific mind and "sought the truth in science, in the environment and in the political arena." He said Mr. Layton had both a strong ego and a humble streak, fought to overcome conflicts in his youth, and was ruled by moral considerations.

"He looked forward to the future, but did not forget some of the hurts of the past," Mr. Seifer said. "He saw it all and made a conscious decision to be a part of the solution." – Staff

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