The remains of John A. Macdonald lying in state in the Senate Chamber, 1891
State funerals in Canada are public events held to commemorate former governors general, prime ministers, other members of the cabinet who died in office, and, at the cabinet's discretion, other eminent Canadians. With ceremonial, military, and religious elements incorporated, state funerals are offered and executed by the governor general-in-council, who provides a dignified manner for the Canadian people to mourn a national public figure. Provincial and territorial governments may also perform state funerals for citizens in their particular jurisdictions. However, most state funerals are federal affairs.
As Canada shares the person of its monarch with the other Commonwealth realms, funerals for Canada's sovereigns, as well as for their consorts, typically take place in the monarch's oldest and most populous realm, the United Kingdom. In Canada, a commemoration service is conducted by the federal crown-in-council and sometimes by provincial crowns, as well.
Process
State funerals are not required by any law and the family of the deceased may opt not to have such an event take place. Should the family agree to a state funeral, the Department of Canadian Heritage (DCH) will work in close consultation with them, as well as with other government departments and elements of the private sector, the degree of involvement depending on the size and complexity of the event. Similarly, the timeline varies on a case-by-case basis, most lasting between five and six days, during which the national flag is flown at half-mast on the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and at other federal crown-owned installations across the country.
A formal statement issued by the governor general-in-council is typically broadcast by the media to notify the general public of an upcoming state funeral, while the DCH issues invitations according to the order of precedence, with foreign heads of state and government included.[1]
Meanwhile, in the days leading up to the funeral, the body is transported from the place of death to Ottawa, whereupon the casket is met by a guard of honour—drawn from the Governor General's Foot Guards for a former governor general and from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for a former prime minister, other ministers, or honoured individuals—and escorted by it to the Centre Block of the parliament buildings. There, the remains lie in state for a period of two days, with four members of the accordant guard of honour maintaining a constant vigil; for the remains of governors general, this takes place in the Senate chamber, in the Hall of Honour for those of prime ministers, and in other rooms for other individuals. On both days, designated hours are set for public viewing. The coffin is then escorted from the Centre Block to a waiting hearse as a gun salute is fired; 21 guns for a governor general, 19 guns for a prime minister, and 15 guns for others. The casket is then either transported to another location in the country for further memorials or to the place of burial.
Similar to a state funeral is a commemoration ceremony, which is a religious and/or memorial service to mark the passing of Canada's monarch or a royal consort (both of whom typically have their state funerals in the United Kingdom), an individual from a family that did not wish a state funeral, or a foreign dignitary. For instance, a commemoration ceremony was held in Ottawa in 2002 for the death of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, the consort of King George VI. A service was held in 2013 for Nelson Mandela, the former President of South Africa. Nevertheless, these commemorations may be classified as state funerals by the Canadian government.[2] Provinces will also conduct their own commemoration ceremonies for the passing of the country's sovereign or a royal consort.
In planning a state funeral, the government makes “every effort to accommodate the wishes of the family” and the family may decline the honour. A state funeral was offered for assassinated Quebec cabinet minister Pierre Laporte in 1970 but his widow declined.[3] A state funeral was also offered for Chief Justice Bora Laskin by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau but his family declined, saying that Laskin “liked things very simple.” Instead, Laskin was honoured with a lying in state on Parliament Hill.[4][5]
Every prime minister of Canada has been accorded a state funeral except for two. Following the death of Canada's second prime minister, Alexander Mackenzie, flags were flown at half-mast across the country and parliament adjourned following speeches commemorating the former prime minister but while a state funeral was suggested, it was not ordered. Mackenzie's funeral occurred at the Jarvis Street Baptist Church with representatives of the federal cabinet in attendance as well as Opposition leader Wilfrid Laurier and almost all members of the Ontario legislature.[8][9][10]
Former Prime Minister R. B. Bennett did not have a state funeral as he had moved to England after leaving Canadian politics. He was buried in England in St. Michael's Churchyard, Mickleham in "a simple private service".[11]
Ceremonies for monarchs
To mark the passing of Queen Victoria in 1901, the federal crown-in-council arranged for gun salutes to take place on Parliament Hill, in the national capital, as well as at armouries across the country. The day of her funeral in the United Kingdom, 2 February, was declared a national day of mourning.[12] When Victoria's son, King Edward VII died in 1910, his funeral date, 20 May, was set as a national holiday, during which military parades and tributes were held across the country.[12]
The death of King George V was officially recognized on the day of his funeral in the UK, 28 January 1936, by a royal proclamation from Governor Generalthe Lord Tweedsmuir, urging Canadians to attend church services and drape public buildings in black crepe. Between the King's death and his funeral, courthouses were closed.[12] As George's successor, Edward VIII, abdicated his position as king of Canada by the end of 1936, no ceremonies marked his death in 1972. At the time, Edward's niece, then reigning as Queen Elizabeth II, received messages of condolence from her Governor General, Roland Michener, and Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, and her federal parliament passed a motion expressing sympathy. None made mention of the Duke’s previous role as Canada's king, only his time as Prince of Wales.[12] Prime Minister Louis St Laurent laid a wreath at the Centre Block, in Ottawa, on 15 February 1952, the day of the burial of Edward's younger brother and Elizabeth's father, George VI. The day was an official holiday only in some provinces, while, in others, it was left to municipalities to decide how to commemorate the King.[12]
The military parade held in Ottawa before the national commemoration ceremony for the passing of Queen Elizabeth II
When Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022, after a 70 year reign as Queen of Canada, the country immediately entered a period of official mourning. A federal holiday was declared for the funeral,[13][14] while the provinces made a variety of arrangements for holidays.[19]
^ abcdMcGee, Foster, Perley, and Flaherty were not sitting cabinet ministers at the times of their deaths.
^Longtime New Democratic Party of Canada leader Ed Broadbent was the first political leader who was neither a prime minister, cabinet minister, or leader of the opposition to be honoured with a state funeral.[4]
State funerals in Quebec are reserved for former premiers. "National" funerals may be held for other distinguished Quebecers. Unlike state funerals, these are only partially subsidized by the government.[89]
^"THE STATE FUNERAL: Burial of Sir John Thompson at Halifax SCENES OF THE GREAT EVENT Conveyance of the Remains to Canada Ceremonies at Halifox in Connection With the Interment of the Late Premier THE LEADING FACTS RECALLED REMOVAL OF THE BODY ARRIVAL AT HALIFAX". The Globe (Toronto). 26 January 1895.
^"Sorrow in Valley field As All Citizens Mourn For Finance Minister: Simple Funeral Service for Hon. James A. Robb This Afternoon". The Globe (Toronto). 13 November 1929.
^"CANADA'S TRIBUTE PAID TO STATESMAN: Thousands Line Ottawa Streets as Sir George Foster's Funeral Is Held COLLEAGUES DO HONOR". The Globe (Toronto). 4 January 1932.
^Flaherty, Frank (29 November 1941). "Bells Toll Last Lapointe Salute". The Leader-Post. Regina SK. The Canadian Press. p. 1. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
