quebec

4 articles

Jan24

1965What is the most celebrated state funeral for a 'commoner' in the United Kingdom?

The most celebrated state funeral for a 'commoner' in United Kingdom history took place in London for Sir Winston Churchill, the nation's iconic wartime prime minister, on 24 January 1965. His funeral was a monumental occasion, attended by representatives from 113 countries, making it the largest gathering of heads of state until 2005. Over 320,000 members of the public braved the cold to pay their respects as Churchill lay in state. The ongoing commemoration of Churchill's legacy includes a bronze bust in Québec City, unveiled in 1998 at the site of the Allied wartime conferences, highlighting his enduring impact on world history.

Oct30

1919What is claimed to be the first Great War memorial erected within Canada?

The Monument aux braves de Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, located in the Montréal borough of Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, holds the distinction of being claimed as the first public memorial erected in Canada to commemorate the Great War. Following the 1918 cease-fire, the community rallied to fund and complete this cenotaph in time for an unveiling by Edward, Prince of Wales, during his official visit in 1919. The monument’s striking features include a four-metre-high grey-granite column and a bronze bas-relief depicting soldiers marching past a cemetery, crafted by Swedish-American sculptor Peter David Estrom. Its unveiling on 30 October 1919 was witnessed by a large crowd, including blind veterans and children from the local school for the disabled, making the event especially poignant.

Apr7

1868What was Canada’s first state funeral?

Canada’s first state funeral took place in Ottawa following the assassination of the Honourable Thomas D’Arcy McGee on April 7, 1868. His death resonated deeply across the young nation, as McGee had been a central figure in promoting Canadian Confederation, religious freedom, and minority rights. The funeral procession in Montréal drew an astonishing 10,000 marchers and between 60,000 to 100,000 spectators—a display of national unity and public mourning unprecedented in Canadian history. Remarkably, 23 military units participated in the civilian’s funeral, underscoring the profound impact McGee had on shaping Canada’s early identity.

Jan7

1867Who is known affectionately as the “Miracle Man of Montreal”?

Saint André Bessette, known as the “Miracle Man of Montreal,” is remembered across Canada each January 7 for a life of humble service and extraordinary faith. Although he began as an uneducated, sickly orphan in Mont-Saint-Grégoire, Quebec, Brother André’s devotion led to the founding of Saint Joseph’s Oratory—the world’s largest shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph. His healing prayers drew such crowds that, at his death in 1937, over a million mourners lined Montreal’s streets in the winter cold. Today, visitors to Mount Royal still find his simple black granite tomb and the hundreds of crutches left behind by those who found hope and healing through his intercession.