Open in full screen mode Public tours take place from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday. Speech synthesis, based on artificial intelligence , allows you to generate spoken text from written text. Flags are at half-mast in front of St. Patrick's Basilica in Montreal, where former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney lies in state. His family welcomes condolences from members of the public on Thursday and Friday who want to say goodbye to the former Progressive Conservative leader. Some knew him personally, others not, but all members of the public interviewed by Radio-Canada had warm memories to share . Pat Donally was the neighbor and longtime friend of Gary Mulroney, Brian's brother. Like the Mulroneys, Ms. Donally has Irish roots.
Pat Donally came to pay a final tribute to Brian Mulroney at St. Patrick's Basilica in Montreal.
Ms. Donally feels great pride in the fact that Brian Mulroney, a member of her community, has become a statesman. Like John F. Kennedy, she does not hesitate to say, this president of the United States from 1961 to 1963, who, too, was the son of an Irish immigrant.
< h3 class="!font-display text-5 leading-5 xsToSm:text-4 font-bold">Brian Mulroney, 1939-2024
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It was also during Canadian-Irish gatherings that Ms. Donally had the opportunity to meet Brian Mulroney a few times during his life, such as in 2019, where the former prime Minister delivered a speech for St. Patrick's Day during which he spoke about his ancestors.
It touched me this day – there, that he knows this story by heart, almost like a poem, remembers the one who was also a journalist at the daily The Montreal Gazette for more than 30 years.
Whether one shares Brian Mulroney's political ideas or not, Ms. Donally remembers a great politician with the courage of his convictions.
It is in these words that Thomas Vares, who also came to meditate, describes Brian Mulroney.
There are few politicians of Mr. Mulroney's caliber today 'today, thinks Mr. Vares.
He was a go-getter who had a vision of the country, underlines the one who knew Mr. Mulroney during his studies in political science.
He “This is the first time I voted Conservative, and the last,” he says with a touch of humor.
Many members of the public interviewed also agree that Brian Mulroney's significant political legacy makes him a respected figure , regardless of allegiance.
In addition, many highlighted Mr. Mulroney's achievements in the environmental cause, including the fight against acid rain and the protection of the earth's surface. x27;ozone, as well as the free trade agreement between Canada and the United States, his attempts at constitutional agreements with Meech and Charlottetown, and, ultimately, his fight against apartheid and for the release of Nelson Mandela.
“It’s very sober and solemn inside. [Mr.Mulroney] is resting with his children and his wife,” says Ms. Faircloth as she leaves the church. precisely for this last aspect that Vivienne Faircloth made a point of showing up in downtown Montreal on Thursday, early in the afternoon.
What I remember about Brian Mulroney is that he helped Nelson Mandela in South Africa in his fight against apartheid. It was a pivotal battle he fought that supported the cause of many black people.
A quote from Vivienne Faircloth
Remember that Mr. Mulroney, unlike the American president at the time, Ronald Reagan, and the British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, had come to the defense of Nelson Mandela, then an anti-apartheid activist. After his release in 1990, Mr. Mandela made Canada his first destination to thank the country and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
We ;was not a great country […], but Mr. Mulroney's leadership made the difference, testifies Sylvie Lachapelle.
Sylvie Lachapelle emphasizes that Mr. Mulroney has contributed to Canada's positive reputation abroad.
When Canadians traveled the world […] they were treated differently, because there was an aura of Canada internationally.
A quote from Sylvie Lachapelle
< p class="StyledBodyHtmlParagraph-sc-48221190-4 hnvfyV">After her passage inside the church, Ms. Lachapelle wanted to emphasize the solemn and dignified character of the Mulroney family: It' is as if they are welcoming people they have been waiting for for a long time. The woman also mentioned the contribution of Mila, Mr. Mulroney's wife, to her career and to her life in general.
Arrival of the funeral procession carrying the remains of Brian Mulroney in front of St. Patrick, in Montreal.
At around 10 a.m., the funeral procession carrying Mr. Mulroney's remains arrived at the scene. Solemnly, the family of the deceased watched the guards of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police carry the coffin draped with a large maple leaf flag into the church.
Several dignitaries, including well-known figures from the Quebec and Canadian political class, did not miss this opportunity to come and express their condolences to the family.
Lucien Bouchard and his partner Solange Dugas on the square in front of the Saint Patrick basilica , Thursday, after offering their condolences to the family of the former Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, in state.
An emotional Lucien Bouchard spoke to the media in front of the church: It's a page that is turning, for society and for history of course, but for us, the people immediately concerned […] there are too many memories to choose just one.
It's time to say goodbye to a great statesman, to a great friend of Quebec.
A quote from Lucien Bouchard, Prime Minister of Quebec from 1996 to 2001
We are living a moment of sadness, but also of happiness, for his part soberly declared Jean Charest, Prime Minister of Quebec from 2003 to 2012.
Members of Brian Mulroney's family stand in front of Saint Patrick's Basilica in Montreal.
Quebecor President and CEO Pierre Karl Péladeau also went to the scene to highlight the contribution of an advisor and friend: At the time of my father's death, he was present and he has always been present, and with good advice, obviously.
The Late Chapel continues Friday, when St. Patrick's Basilica will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
As for the funeral of the former prime minister, it will be celebrated at the Notre-Dame basilica in Montreal on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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