Canadian dignitaries gathered at Ottawa’s Christ Church Cathedral on Monday for a solemn send-off to Queen Elizabeth, the country’s longest-serving monarch.
Canada, a favoured member of the Commonwealth, was the only realm to hold its own national commemorative ceremony following the late Queen’s state funeral in the U.K. — a testament to the close relations between Canada and its former sovereign.
Throughout her reign, the Queen routinely referred to Canada as “home.”
Queen Elizabeth was eulogized by former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who had a positive working relationship with the monarch during his nearly nine years as head of government.
Mulroney said the Queen felt “a special, very deep love for Canada — its diversity, its geography and its history,” a genuine affinity for a country she regarded as “the greatest one in her realm.”
The Quebec-born former prime minister said he thinks Canada is as successful as it is now because of the stability of our Westminster system of parliamentary democracy, where the constitutional monarch is central.
While some other countries are beset by war, violence and political coups, Canada stands as a beacon of peace and strength, Mulroney said.
“We are largely unaffected by the major spasms of social and political discontent that have destroyed so many countries around the world. This didn’t happen by accident. The system of government chosen by our founders had much to do with it,” he said.
“Today, our system might appear anachronistic to some — I understand that — but to others, who constitute, in my judgment, the overwhelming majority of Canadians, the role of the monarchy and in particular the irreplaceable role played by Her Majesty for 70 years was absolutely indispensable,” he said.
WATCH | Brian Mulroney gives eulogy at ceremony for the Queen in Ottawa:
Former prime minister Brian Mulroney gives eulogy at ceremony for Queen in Ottawa
7 hours ago
Duration 5:18
Looking back on his time as prime minister, Brian Mulroney recalls working closely with Queen Elizabeth and her special relationship with Canada.
Mulroney also pointed to the role the Queen played in helping to end apartheid in South Africa.
He said that triumph “would never have taken place in the Commonwealth had it not been for Her Majesty’s discreet, brilliant and generous guidance and unerring instinct for the victory we all sought.”
Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson, who served as the Queen’s representative between 1999 and 2005, said Canada came of age during her 70-year reign, becoming a freer and fairer country on her watch.
Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson speaks during commemorative ceremonies for Queen Elizabeth at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa on Monday. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
“The Queen, as the representative of the Crown, was the symbol of democratic legitimacy,” Clarkson said.
Recalling the Queen signing the Constitution Act in 1982, Clarkson said the monarch “signed over to us what is rightfully ours — our human rights, our human freedom.”
Clarkson recounts 2002 meeting with Queen
Clarkson recounted a meeting with the Queen during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002. “Suddenly focusing on me, she said, ‘I shall never abdicate…. It is not our tradition. Although, I suppose if I became completely gaga, one would have to do something,'” Clarkson said to chuckles from the congregation.
This moment, Clarkson said, was a reflection of her unwavering dedication to public service.
“She held the course to the end — focused, dutiful, calm, the essence of equanimity. Like her remarkable mother and her heroic father, her life was guided by intention,” Clarkson said.
WATCH | Adrienne Clarkson speaks at ceremony for the Queen in Ottawa:
Former governor general Adrienne Clarkson speaks at ceremony for Queen in Ottawa
7 hours ago
Duration 5:44
Clarkson remembers several interactions with the late Queen Elizabeth throughout her career as Canada’s Governor General.
Christ Church Cathedral, an Anglican church in Ottawa’s downtown core, was chosen as the site for this service because of the Queen’s formal position as “defender of the faith” and the head of the Church of England, the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion.
The cathedral’s choristers sang Psalm 23 (“The Lord is my shepherd …”), which is often read or sung at funeral services because the content is comforting to many Christians during times of grief, and Donald Booth, the Canadian secretary to the King, read a passage from the Bible, Philippians 4:4-9.
Brig.-Gen. Guy Bélisle, the chaplain general of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), praised the late monarch for promoting “religious diversity and interfaith harmony.”
WATCH | Queen’s funeral felt like ‘the turning of the page into a new era,’ says former PM Campbell:
Queen’s funeral felt like ‘the turning of the page into a new era,’ says former Prime Minister Campbell
3 hours ago
Duration 10:46
Former Prime Minister Kim Campbell was part of the Canadian delegation attending the Queen’s state funeral in London. She reflects on the Queen’s legacy and what she calls a sense of ‘the turning of a page into a new era’.
The Queen, a devout Christian, routinely celebrated other faith traditions during her annual Christmas messages — one of the few times Commonwealth subjects heard directly from the monarch.
“We pray for the leaders of the world, may they continue to work towards the vision of Elizabeth II, devoting their lives also to the common good. Remembering Elizabeth II’s service and her dedication to the cause of peace,” Bélisle said.
The day began with a memorial parade through the streets of downtown Ottawa led by members of the CAF and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, two services that were also well represented at the funeral in London and Windsor, England.
Her Majesty’s Personal Canadian Flag, wrapped in plastic to protect it from the rain, is carried by a member of the guard of honour as the Memorial Parade for Queen Elizabeth arrives at Christ Church Cathedral for a commemorative ceremony, in Ottawa on Monday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)
Members of air force, army, navy and special forces were accompanied by the Canadian Armed Forces Central Band as they marched past the war memorial and Parliament Buildings in Ottawa en route to the cathedral.
At LeBreton Flats, across from the Canadian War Museum, a 96-salvo salute — one shot for each year of Her Majesty’s life — was fired while the parade marched the city core.
While Ottawa faced inclement weather and rain throughout most of the morning, thousands of onlookers lined Wellington Street, the road that runs in front of Parliament Hill, to pay tribute to the Queen and her remarkable seven-decade reign.
The crowds grew after British ceremonies concluded, as locals flocked from their TVs to the streets to take part in the commemorative ceremony.
WATCH | Singh encourages King Charles to make ‘amends’ for colonization:
Singh encourages King Charles to make ‘amends’ for colonization
3 hours ago
Duration 3:21
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh reflects on Queen Elizabeth’s legacy and his hopes for the reign of King Charles.
Sandra Tisch and her husband, Rob Semancik, drove eight hours from Oldcastle, Ont., near Windsor, to take in the event.
“It’s been an emotional 10 days,” said Tisch, who brought flowers to drop at the British High Commission and a statue of Queen Elizabeth.
“She gave her life to her country, and I think she did a lot of good.”
Tisch also got up early to watch the televised funeral service in London.
Members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police take part in a parade to honour Queen Elizabeth as it makes its way through the downtown core of Ottawa on Monday. (Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press)
Alexandra McLean, the descendant of a British war bride who married a Canadian soldier, said she came out to commemorate the work of the Queen and what it symbolizes to those who took up arms in her service.
“We’re mourning our grandmothers as well,” she said.
“We are respecting the head of state, constitutional democracy [and] the woman who served us very well, and we’re honouring the people who loved her, who saw in her service their own service and what gave them strength for that service.”
The late Queen, as Canada’s head of state, served as commander-in-chief of the CAF and is revered in military circles.
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre, Canada’s top soldier, said Monday the Queen was a “role model” for military personnel and a “real sterling example of service above self, humility, determination, and she led an incredible life of giving to others.”
More than 600 people were on hand for the ceremony officiated by the Very Reverend Elizabeth J. Bretzlaff, dean of Christ Church Cathedral, and the Right Reverend Shane A. D. Parker, bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.
Most members of the federal cabinet, MPs, senators, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and members of the diplomatic corps were in attendance as Albert Dumont, the cathedral’s Algonquin spiritual adviser, paid tribute to the Queen with a poem. Musicians played at gaps in the religious service.
Dumont ceremoniously ushered Queen Elizabeth into the arms of her husband, Prince Philip, who died 17 months earlier.
“In the land of the red Maple Leaf, the sorrow of many citizens fills the skies,” he said. “The tears, the prayers of her admirers take flight, like the geese of spring and autumn, making their way to the Queen Mother, who waits to hold her daughter close to her bosom once again.”
Violinist David Baik; playwright, producer and director Tomson Highway; Cree vocalist Patricia Cano; and saxophonist Marcus Ali were among those who played the musical interludes.
Baik played Nimrod, from Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations, which is usually associated with solemn occasions. It was performed at Westminster Abbey in 1953, just prior to Her Majesty’s coronation service, and has since also been commonly affiliated with the Queen.
WATCH | Ottawa’s English poet laureate discusses memorial to Queen:
Ottawa poet laureate wrestled with Crown’s role in colonialism while writing tribute to the Queen
1 day ago
Duration 6:33
Ottawa’s English poet laureate Albert Dumont, who is also an Algonquin spiritual adviser, joins Rosemary Barton Live to talk about the memorial service being held in Ottawa on Monday to honour the Queen. He offers an early glimpse of his tribute to Her late Majesty.
Author, singer-songwriter and actor Ginette Reno and singer-songwriter and composer Rufus Wainwright each performed a song to honour the Queen.
Reno performed Ceux qui s’en vont, and Wainwright, who has performed for the Queen before, sang Hallelujah.
After the ceremony, the bells tolled as the parishioners filtered out.
There was to be a flypast by CF18s in the “missing person” formation, but poor weather forced the military to call that down shortly before the ceremony was to begin.
The Vintage Wings of Canada, composed of Second World War Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft, were also scheduled to fly over Parliament Hill and the cathedral, but that was cancelled because of low cloud cover.
VANCOUVER – Contract negotiations resume today in Vancouver in a labour dispute that has paralyzed container cargo shipping at British Columbia’s ports since Monday.
The BC Maritime Employers Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514 are scheduled to meet for the next three days in mediated talks to try to break a deadlock in negotiations.
The union, which represents more than 700 longshore supervisors at ports, including Vancouver, Prince Rupert and Nanaimo, has been without a contract since March last year.
The latest talks come after employers locked out workers in response to what it said was “strike activity” by union members.
The start of the lockout was then followed by several days of no engagement between the two parties, prompting federal Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon to speak with leaders on both sides, asking them to restart talks.
MacKinnon had said that the talks were “progressing at an insufficient pace, indicating a concerning absence of urgency from the parties involved” — a sentiment echoed by several business groups across Canada.
In a joint letter, more than 100 organizations, including the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Business Council of Canada and associations representing industries from automotive and fertilizer to retail and mining, urged the government to do whatever it takes to end the work stoppage.
“While we acknowledge efforts to continue with mediation, parties have not been able to come to a negotiated agreement,” the letter says. “So, the federal government must take decisive action, using every tool at its disposal to resolve this dispute and limit the damage caused by this disruption.
“We simply cannot afford to once again put Canadian businesses at risk, which in turn puts Canadian livelihoods at risk.”
In the meantime, the union says it has filed a complaint to the Canada Industrial Relations Board against the employers, alleging the association threatened to pull existing conditions out of the last contract in direct contact with its members.
“The BCMEA is trying to undermine the union by attempting to turn members against its democratically elected leadership and bargaining committee — despite the fact that the BCMEA knows full well we received a 96 per cent mandate to take job action if needed,” union president Frank Morena said in a statement.
The employers have responded by calling the complaint “another meritless claim,” adding the final offer to the union that includes a 19.2 per cent wage increase over a four-year term remains on the table.
“The final offer has been on the table for over a week and represents a fair and balanced proposal for employees, and if accepted would end this dispute,” the employers’ statement says. “The offer does not require any concessions from the union.”
The union says the offer does not address the key issue of staffing requirement at the terminals as the port introduces more automation to cargo loading and unloading, which could potentially require fewer workers to operate than older systems.
The Port of Vancouver is the largest in Canada and has seen a number of labour disruptions, including two instances involving the rail and grain storage sectors earlier this year.
A 13-day strike by another group of workers at the port last year resulted in the disruption of a significant amount of shipping and trade.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
The Royal Canadian Legion says a new partnership with e-commerce giant Amazon is helping boost its veterans’ fund, and will hopefully expand its donor base in the digital world.
Since the Oct. 25 launch of its Amazon.ca storefront, the legion says it has received nearly 10,000 orders for poppies.
Online shoppers can order lapel poppies on Amazon in exchange for donations or buy items such as “We Remember” lawn signs, Remembrance Day pins and other accessories, with all proceeds going to the legion’s Poppy Trust Fund for Canadian veterans and their families.
Nujma Bond, the legion’s national spokesperson, said the organization sees this move as keeping up with modern purchasing habits.
“As the world around us evolves we have been looking at different ways to distribute poppies and to make it easier for people to access them,” she said in an interview.
“This is definitely a way to reach a wider number of Canadians of all ages. And certainly younger Canadians are much more active on the web, on social media in general, so we’re also engaging in that way.”
Al Plume, a member of a legion branch in Trenton, Ont., said the online store can also help with outreach to veterans who are far from home.
“For veterans that are overseas and are away, (or) can’t get to a store they can order them online, it’s Amazon.” Plume said.
Plume spent 35 years in the military with the Royal Engineers, and retired eight years ago. He said making sure veterans are looked after is his passion.
“I’ve seen the struggles that our veterans have had with Veterans Affairs … and that’s why I got involved, with making sure that the people get to them and help the veterans with their paperwork.”
But the message about the Amazon storefront didn’t appear to reach all of the legion’s locations, with volunteers at Branch 179 on Vancouver’s Commercial Drive saying they hadn’t heard about the online push.
Holly Paddon, the branch’s poppy campaign co-ordinator and bartender, said the Amazon partnership never came up in meetings with other legion volunteers and officials.
“I work at the legion, I work with the Vancouver poppy office and I go to the meetings for the Vancouver poppy campaign — which includes all the legions in Vancouver — and not once has this been mentioned,” she said.
Paddon said the initiative is a great idea, but she would like to have known more about it.
The legion also sells a larger collection of items at poppystore.ca.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2024.
