Brian Mulroney lying in state in Ottawa as Canadians pay their respects to the former prime minister, wife and children

The funeral ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Notre-Dame Basilica (110 Notre-Dame Street West) in Montreal.

Yahoo News Canada will broadcast live coverage of the funeral from Global News here.

Trudeau, Gretzky to deliver eulogy: What we know about the event

Prior to the ceremony, a funeral cortege, including a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) mounted escort, a Canadian Armed Forces escort and guard of honour, the Royal Canadian Air Force Band, RCMP pallbearers, and honorary pallbearers, will make its way to the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.

The ceremony will feature religious components led by His Grace Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal, and The Very Reverend Miguel Castellanos, PSS, rector of Notre-Dame Basilica.

Eulogies will be offered by Caroline Mulroney, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Karl Péladeau, Wayne Gretzky, James Baker and Jean Charest.

Guests invited to the ceremony will include family, friends, current and former government representatives and dignitaries, as well as representatives of organizations to which the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney had a close connection.

Canadians took a moment out of their day either virtually or in-person on Tuesday to offer their condolences to Brian Mulroney's family and take in a moment in front of the former prime minister's flag-draped casket.

While no official cause of death has been released, a family spokesman said Mulroney died in a Palm Beach, Florida hospital, where he's been since a recent fall. Mulroney was a long-time seasonal resident of the state. He was surrounded by family upon his passing.

In April, the former prime minister was also treated for prostate cancer. His daughter, Caroline, said in August that following cancer treatment, and also a heart procedure, his health was improving.

Brian Mulroney's widow Mila Mulroney greets Governor General Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser. Born in Yugoslavia in 1953, Mila Mulroney moved to Canada along with her family in 1958. She and Brian Mulroney got married on May 26, 1973 and had four children. Seen in the picture above are Caroline, Nicholas, Ben and Mark Mulroney.

Caroline, an acclaimed lawyer and politician currently serves as MPP for York-Simcoe riding.

As for Nicholas and Mark, they both ventured into the business world.

Ben, the eldest, is an acclaimed Canadian producer and former television host.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney's body is lying in state on March 19 and 20th in Ottawa before his body will lie in repose at Saint Patrick’s Basilica in Montreal on March 21 and 22 ahead of his state funeral on Saturday.

What does it mean when a leader lies in state and how is it different from lying in repose?

Lying in state

The Canadian government defines lying in state as "a term used to describe the ceremonial tradition whereby the remains of the deceased rest on view, with a vigil, to allow official dignitaries as well as members of the public to pay their final respects."

In Canada, this usually takes place on Parliament Hill, where officials and members of the public file past a flag-draped casket and flanked by honour guard.

There is no determination of length that a leader can lie in state, and is determined on a case-by-case basis.

The last time a Canadian dignitary lay in state in Ottawa was 2011, when thousands waited in line for hours to commemorate NDP leader Jack Layton.

Lying in repose

In Canada, when deceased governors general and prime ministers lie anywhere outside of the Hall of Honour on Parliament Hill, they lie in repose.

Dignitaries parade through the Parliamentary precinct where Mulroney's body will lie in state for the next day-and-a-half to offer their condolences to the family and pay their final respects.

Gov. Gen. Mary Simon

Former prime minister Joe Clark and his wife Maureen McTeer

Former Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean

A priest pays his final respects

House Speaker Greg Fergus offers condolences to the Mulroney family

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his wife Anaida

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

Members of Parliament shared stories and tributes as the Mulroney family attended the House of Commons on Monday.

Trudeau took an opportunity to reminisce about one of his last encounters with Mulroney when they toured Mulroney Hall last fall, as reported by CBC.

"He wouldn't let himself succumb to temporary pressure. He was motivated by service. And those things, those big things, have stood the test of history four decades and counting," Trudeau said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre touched on the former leader's humble beginnings.

"I was just becoming aware there was such a thing as prime minister when he had that job. And like millions of young people from similar backgrounds, we looked to him and said — if the Irish son of a working-class electrician from a mill town can rise to become prime minister, then in this country, anyone from anywhere can do anything," Poilievre said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is one of the dignitaries paying their respects to the Mulroney family before members of the public have their opportunity to say farewell to Canada's 18th prime minister.

Brian Mulroney's son Ben spoke with the hosts of The Morning Show to reflect on memories of the late prime minister as a father.

"We are having a tough go.. You are OK until you are not OK," Mulroney said.

As the Canadian Press obituary for Brian Mulroney put it, the former prime minister leaves a divisive legacy, with many Canadians either loving or hating him.

"Canadians loved him: In 1984, they handed the youthful charmer a blank cheque and the largest majority mandate in history so he could change the country.

"Canadians hated him: When he announced his departure from politics in 1993, his charm was dismissed as blarney, his youth faded into a lugubrious middle-age."

Mulroney entered the office of prime minister amid a massive wave of public support. By the time he left office in 1993, however, Mulroney held the lowest approval rating in the history of polling.

Remembered as one of Canada's most influential and controversial politicians, here are just a few monumental snapshots of Brian Mulroney's life.