The state funeral for former finance minister Jim Flaherty begins at 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, at the historic St. James’ Cathedral located at 65 Church St. in downtown Toronto.
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Flaherty's coffin will be draped with a Canadian flag, and members of the RCMP will serve as pallbearers. Colin Johnson, the Anglican Archbishop of Toronto, will preside over the service.
Members of the public are invited to pay their respects, and organizers say there will be speakers set up outside the church so that any crowds gathered there can also listen to the service.
A visitation is scheduled at the Abilities Centre in Whitby, Ont., from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.Tuesday. The centre is located at 55 Gordon St.
Flaherty and his wife, Ontario MPP Christine Elliott, supported the Abilities Centre, which is located in the former minister’s riding. One of the couple’s triplet sons has a developmental disability and Flaherty has been a staunch supporter of families with disabled children.
Flaherty's family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Abilities Centre, according to Canadian Heritage, which is helping organize the state funeral.
Flaherty, 64, died suddenly in Ottawa on Thursday, less than a month after he resigned from cabinet. It’s believed that he suffered a heart attack.
State funerals are usually reserved for prime ministers, sitting cabinet members, as well as current and former governors general. However, a state funeral can be arranged for other prominent politicians and Canadians at the discretion of the prime minister.
The last federal politician to receive a state funeral was former NDP leader Jack Layton, who died of cancer in 2011.
