Thousands Mourn Former Prime Minister Trudeau
O T T A W A, Sept 30 -- The coffin carrying the body of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau lay in state in Ottawa today as several thousand Canadians, including dignitaries and politicians, paid their last respects to the man who led the country for more than 15 years.
Trudeau died of cancer Thursday in his hometown ofMontreal at age 80. The death of arguably Canada’s mostinfluential and charismatic modern-era politician has led to anoutpouring of grief across the country. Trudeau was primeminister from 1968 to 1979 and from 1980 to 1984.
His coffin, which was flown from Montreal, arrived in thenational capital shortly after 10 a.m. today under a clear sky at a place he long dominated—Canada’s Parliament—accompanied by Trudeau’s two surviving sons, Justin and Sacha, and his former wife, Margaret.
Family Receives Condolences
Several hundred people attended the arrival of the funeralcar, with some laying candles, Canadian flags and roses at thecentennial flame on Parliament Hill.
Eight Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers carried thecasket under a black-draped arch into the Centre Block ofParliament as 81 bells tolled. Canadian Prime Minister JeanChretien and his wife, Aline, joined Trudeau family members infollowing the closed casket, which was covered by a Canadianflag. The casket was then laid in Parliament’s Hall of Honor,where the family took time to grieve alone.
The family then received condolences from dignitaries,including Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson, who reached up towipe tears from the eyes of Justin Trudeau, Trudeau’s oldestson. A weeping Chretien, who served in the Cabinet underTrudeau, hugged both sons.
Several thousand people, including Trudeau’s formerpolitical colleagues, Cabinet ministers, diplomats and friendsbegan filing by the casket at 11:30 a.m. By the endof this afternoon, a few thousand others were still waitingin two separate 100-foot lines outside.
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