Montreal police officers will wear their regular uniforms for Canadian hockey legend Jean Beliveau’s state funeral next week, despite an ongoing effort to sport non-regulation garb in protest against a new Quebec law.
The union representing the police officers has announced that their members will forgo their camo pants and red caps on the day of the funeral for the former Habs player. Police have been wearing their non-regulation garb since July in protest of the Liberals’ pension reform bill, which passed into law Dec. 4.
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LIVE on CTVNews.ca: Tribute to Jean Beliveau: On Sunday, Dec. 7 and Monday, Dec. 8, the Bell Centre in Montreal becomes a place of mourning as the late Jean Beliveau lies in state while Canadians pay their respects to the hockey great
The Montreal Police Brotherhood described their reasons for their wardrobe choice in a news release.
“This decision is based on paying tribute to this man, his family and his admirers in the context of a state funeral,” read the statement.
The Brotherhood also extended condolences to Beliveau’s family and his fans.
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre’s spokesperson said the mayor is happy the officers will wear their proper uniform for the funeral, adding that he wants the force to revert back to it permanently, now that Bill 3 is law.
Beliveau died Tuesday night at the age of 83. The Habs icon won 10 Stanley Cups with the Montreal Canadiens between 1950 and 1971. Beliveau was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and Montreal retired his No. 4 jersey in 1971.
The Trois-Rivieres, Que. native is being remembered by the hockey world as a dignified class act.
Beliveau will “lay in wake” at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Sunday and Monday, said the Montreal Canadiens, allowing fans to pay their last respects. The funeral will be held at the Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in downtown Montreal on Wednesday afternoon.
With files from CTV Montreal
