The high-powered guests who attended the state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney (2024)

MONTREAL — Former prime minister Brian Mulroney was remembered Saturday as a larger-than-life figure who transcended politics, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and souls of the many people he touched in a long and momentous life.

As his casket was carried out of the cathedral after a two-hour service that featured six eulogies Mulroney’s own voice filled the church, with a recording of him singing “We’ll Meet Again.”

Article content

The first person to eulogize Mulroney was his daughter, Caroline, who described her father as a caring parent, grandfather, political mentor and friend.

“My dad saw the world in a bigger way than most,” she told the audience during a sprawling state funeral at Montreal’s cavernous Notre-Dame Basilica.

“His humanity defined him, which is why he transcended politics and connected with people in a way that left an indelible mark on their hearts and souls.”

She recalled her dad’s final hours, when Mila Mulroney put her hands on her husband’s cheeks and said, “Oh Brian, are you coming back to me?”

In response, a tired Brian Mulroney looked at his wife of 51 years and said, in his final words, “I plan to.”

The crowd, many made up of Canada’s past and present political elites, laughed as Mulroney poked gentle fun at her father’s love of the spotlight — including a suggestion he wanted be buried with a podium to make speeches — and heard her voice waver as she told more personal stories of his love for her, her three brothers, and their mother.

Through tears, she ended her speech, “We adored him. I miss you, daddy.”

Article content

One of the most poignant moments came near the end when Caroline’s daughter, 18-year-old Elizabeth Theodora Lapham, stepped to the microphone to sing “Mais qu’est-ce que j’ai?”

She held back tears as she introduced the song that she says was her papa’s favourite.

The crowd clapped for her for a long time.

Quebec tenor Marc Hervieux joined her to sing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling” — the song Brian Mulroney famously sang with former U.S. President Ronald Reagan during the 1985 “Shamrock Summit.” Mila, in the front row, sang along.

Mark Mulroney held her hand as Brian Mulroney’s voice joins them, a recording playing his rendition of the song’s final verse. People in the crowd gasped as they recognized his distinct baritone.

Elizabeth Theodora hugged her grandmother as she returned to her seat.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described his predecessor as a prime minister motivated by service, leadership, and “getting the big things right.”

In his eulogy, he said Mulroney fought for important causes including free trade, standing up against apartheid in South Africa, and repairing the ozone layer.

Article content

“As he put it himself, leaders must have vision and they must find the courage to fight for the policies that will give that vision life,” Trudeau said.

He recalled a time when Mulroney was comforting an embattled Ronald Reagan through a low point in his presidency.

“‘Ron, I don’t know how to break this to you, but Margaret Thatcher, (former German Chancellor) Helmut Kohl and I combined don’t have your 59 per cent approval rating,'” Trudeau recalled with laughter from the crowd.

Wayne Gretzky, former Quebec premier Jean Charest and Quebec businessman Pierre-Karl Peladeau also delivered eulogies at the religious ceremony led by Montreal Archbishop Christian Lepine.

As he walked up to the front of the church, Gretzky paused and placed his hand on the casket for a moment.

“We’ve had so many wonderful speakers, you’re going to figure out who’s in politics and which guy is the hockey player real quick,” he says to laughter.

Gretzky shared that he met Mulroney in 1984 after he had won the leadership of the Progressive Conservative party.

His second encounter with Mulroney came two years later, when he called asking if he’d take part in a charity hockey game organized by Mila Mulroney.

Article content

“The game itself was wonderful because we raised a lot of money and awareness, but we were so excited to come to 24 Sussex,” Gretzky recalled with a smile.

“Mr. Mulroney was one of the greatest prime ministers we’ve ever had,” he said.

Pierre Karl Peladeau, the former leader of the sovereigntist Parti Quebecois, described Mulroney as a second father, while, from the other side of the partisan aisle, former Quebec Liberal premier Jean Charest lauded him for helping build Canada into “one of the greatest countries in the world.”

The funeral brought together much of Canada’s political class, past and present. In addition to Trudeau, the guest list included four former prime ministers — Kim Campbell, Jean Chrétien, Joe Clark and Stephen Harper, as well as 12 current provincial premiers or territorial leaders, the leaders of all the major federal opposition parties, and several foreign ambassadors.

Sarah Ferguson, the duch*ess of York, was also on the list, as was former British prime minister John Major, actor Ryan Reynolds and members of prominent business families such as Molson, Irving and Bronson.

Article content

James Baker, a legendary former U.S. secretary of state, could not be present for health reasons, but described Mulroney in a written eulogy as “one of the great leaders to walk this good earth.”

“Above all, to those of us south of the Canadian border, Brian Mulroney was a friend,” Baker said in a message read by Timothy J. McBride.

The funeral followed four days of public tributes in Montreal and Ottawa during which political dignitaries and members of the public filed past Mulroney’s casket and paid their respects to his wife and four children.

Mulroney, who died Feb. 29 at age 84, was prime minister for nine years between 1984 and 1993 and led the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.

His legacy includes the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed between Canada, the United States and Mexico during his time as prime minister, his participation in the fight against South African apartheid, the 1991 acid rain accord and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax.

Mulroney’s three sons said they wanted the funeral to be a chance to celebrate their father’s life with a “party” that includes music, laughter and funny stories.

Article content

“He loved a good party, so that’s a promise from the family,” his son Nicolas Mulroney told The Canadian Press on Thursday. “It’ll be a funeral on paper, but it will be a party to many.”

The church bells tolled 84 times before the service — one for each year of Mulroney’s life — and 18 times afterwards for the 18th prime minister.

A 19-gun salute in Montreal’s Old Port followed the ceremony. The family will hold a private burial in Montreal.

With files from Bryan Passifiume, National Post

Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

Article content