Guy Lafleur remembered as Quebec holds national funeral for hockey icon
CBC
Quebecers and hockey fans around the world are preparing to give Canadiens legend Guy Lafleur a final send-off, as the province holds a national funeral in his honour.
Lafleur, who captured five Stanley Cup titles and was a hockey hero in Quebec long before his NHL playing days, died after a series of prolonged health issues, including lung cancer. He was 70.
The funeral for the man known affectionately as le Démon Blond will begin at 11 a.m. ET at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in downtown Montreal.
CBC will be carrying the ceremonies live, with English translation, in the livestream above.
"Today is a day to say thank you to Guy Lafleur for everything he gave us over so many years," said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, moments before he entered the church with his wife Sophie Grégoire.
"All the wins, all the inspiration, the incredible games he played, but also his deep humanity. His contributions to the world around him were legendary and an inspiration to us all."
Quebec Premier François Legault, who is also among a long list of dignitaries attending, described Lafleur as "the idol for the Quebec nation."
"We were so proud that a guy coming from here was the best player in the world," the premier said.
A spokesperson for the Montreal Canadiens has also confirmed that close to 100 fans gathered outside the church will be allowed in.
The ceremony follows two days of public visitations at the Bell Centre, where thousands lined up for hours for a chance to pay their respects.
Here's how you can follow along:
On TV: CBC News Network will be live from the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral Tuesday morning as of 8 a.m. A network special following the ceremony, with live translation, will begin at 10 a.m. Local programming in Montreal will continue the coverage throughout the day.
On Digital: The CBC News Network special will be available on the CBC Montreal website as a livestream, starting at 10 a.m. ET. The special will also be available live on CBC Gem and on the CBC Montreal and CBC News Facebook pages.
On Radio: A Montreal radio special will run on 88.5 FM — and across the stations of the Quebec Community Network —on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET, hosted by Shawn Apel and co-hosted by Shawn Lyons, including live updates from the scene from local reporters.
The P.E.I. Humane Society says it is doing far more fundraising than it used to, and rising expenses — including the cost of animal medications — are a big reason why.
Ottawa is staring down a court-ordered deadline to submit a new plan to reform the on-reserve child welfare system, as a group of First Nations leaders and children’s advocates prepare a competing proposal.
An underpass revitalization project that was meant to pay tribute to the people of Parkdale has instead deteriorated into “a garbage dump,” according to nearby residents.
A young man has been charged with criminal negligence causing bodily harm after a fire at a frat party near Western University that injured five sorority sisters, including two seriously, late Tuesday night.
The massive deal to combine one of Hollywood's oldest studios with a streaming giant hasn't even been approved yet, but it's already riling multiple related industries and politicians concerned about monopolies and media concentration.
Mi'kmaq chiefs and a former Nova Scotia justice minister are criticizing the provincial government for directing police to crack down on illegal cannabis, saying the order undermines relations with Indigenous Peoples.
For years, there has been “glaring inequity” in the way the province has allocated the millions of dollars in its county roads budget, according to Department of Transportation Minister Chuck Chiasson.
Six months after passing a law aimed at making it easier for new grocery stores to open, Manitoba's premier says lower grocery bills could be on the horizon.
Timothy Smith was acting in self-defence when he punched Landon Waddell, and shouldn't be found guilty of manslaughter, his lawyer says.
Thoroughbred horse racing at Vancouver’s Hastings Racecourse is ending after more than a century, with the operator announcing Friday it will no longer run a racing season at the historic facility.
A memorial to remember lives lost to gender-based violence was held in Charlottetown Friday, ahead of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, which is marked annually on Dec. 6.
A Calgary dentist who defrauded five insurance companies over a decade should spend up to three years in prison, the prosecution argued Friday.
B.C. Conservation Officer Service says it has called off its search for a bear responsible for an attack on a group of school children in Bella Coola, B.C. on Nov. 20.