The remains of former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney are scheduled to arrive in Montreal on Thursday morning where dignitaries and the general public are invited to pay their last respects.
The burning chapel exhibition will take place at Saint-Patrick’s Basilica in downtown Montreal until Friday.
Around 10 a.m., pallbearers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police will carry the body into the basilica through the main doors, followed by the Mulroney family.
Brian Mulroney’s parents were of Irish descent and according to Canadian Heritage, the Mulroney family has many personal ties to St. Patrick’s Basilica, which “served Montreal’s Irish community at a time when it was rapidly growing, many people who left Ireland as a result of the Great Famine and other hardships.
During the state funeral, the body of the deceased will be constantly guarded by “a watch detachment”, composed in particular of sentries from the Canadian Armed Forces, police officers from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and members of the Parliamentary Protective Service.
From 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday, visits are reserved for dignitaries and people invited by the family of the former prime minister.
Public tours are from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday.
Citizens wishing to say goodbye to Brian Mulroney will have to undergo a security check.
Canadian Heritage is asking members of the public not to bring bags or objects in order to speed up the screening process.
Condolence books will be made available to dignitaries and the public.
Mr. Mulroney’s state funeral will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Notre-Dame Basilica in Old Montreal.
Eulogies are to be delivered by his daughter Caroline and by Justin Trudeau, Pierre Karl Péladeau, Jean Charest, Wayne Gretzky and former US Secretary of State James Baker.
The man who governed Canada for ten years, between 1984 and 1993, died at the age of 84 on February 29.