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Mauril Bélanger remembered as 'the glue' that binds as mourners bid final adieu
Published on: August 27, 2016 | Last Updated: August 27, 2016 5:59 PM EDT
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touches the casket of MP Mauril Belanger after delivering a eulogy during his funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 in Ottawa. Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Veteran Ottawa-Vanier Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger was remembered Saturday as a man of the people who inspired hope in those who’d lost faith in politics.
As the Canadian flag flew at half-mast at city hall and on the Peace Tower, approximately 1,200 mourners made their way into the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica to bid a final adieu to the popular parliamentarian.
Bélanger died Aug. 15 at the age of 61 after a difficult battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“You know, we all have someone in our lives who you look at and realize that this person is the glue, that keeps a group of otherwise different people together,” Bélanger’s stepson, Barclay Easton, said as he delivered a very personal eulogy.
“He seemed to be the glue within the Liberal party, within his constituency, within his friends, his brothers and at home with us.”
Bélanger, who represented the citizens of Ottawa-Vanier, was also remembered as a champion of human rights by the constituents who came to honour him.
“I’m feeling a sense of grief but also some satisfaction in knowing that I was able to pay my final respects,” said Leocadie Kabogoye, who came to thank a man she said was a champion of immigrants in Ottawa.
Kabogoye, who works as a settlement agent helping francophone immigrants, said it was not uncommon for Bélanger to “come to the rescue” of newcomers seeking help from their local MP.
“He did everything in his power to help them find a solution,” she said.
Ontario Sen. Jim Munson, who was on a parliamentary visit to Africa with Bélanger earlier this year, described his friend and colleague as “a man of action.”
“I think we should remember him as the man from Mattawa who grew up in Ottawa, who just knew what was right to do.”
“You saw that when he was in Africa, when he was on the streets of Vanier-Ottawa. He cared about the common man, the common person.”
Bélanger was engaged with a number of human rights issues, including the deportation of citizens to Burundi, a country with ongoing security concerns.
“I can say without pause that Bélanger saved lives,” said Charles Makaza, a resident of Hull-Aylmer and a spokesman for the Alliance of Burundis in Canada.
Bélanger was also well-known as a staunch defender of national unity and francophone rights.
Some 20 years ago, he was a key figure in the battle to save Ottawa’s French-language Montfort Hospital — a victory his constituents never forgot.
“At a time when we barely won a referendum in 1995, there was Bélanger … fighting the fight to keep a hospital, a French-speaking hospital, the pride of Francophone Ontario, alive,” Munson said.
Bélanger’s wife, Catherine, was visibly moved by the eulogies, which she listened to from her seat in the first row — to the right of her husband’s flag-draped casket.
Her son, Easton, would go on to tell the story of how she and Bélanger met when the two worked on a political campaign together.
“Apparently, Mauril was very persistent and an eternal romantic. But I need to be clear, it’s my mom were talking about, and I only needed to know so many of the details. But what I do know is that Mauril had a moustache and hair that my mom loved and still loves to this very day.
“I’m sorry prime minister, you’re apparently not the first to have nice hair,” Easton said, drawing a laugh from the mourners, including Trudeau who sat to the left, opposite of his mom.
Trudeau was the first to eulogize his “true friend” whose legacy, he said, would stand the test of time.
Bélanger offered “some great lessons of integrity and humility and grace,” Sophie Grégoire Trudeau said prior to the funeral service.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, former governor general Michaële Jean and former prime minister Joe Clark were also in attendance.
While the progressive brain disease prevented Bélanger from speaking in the final months of his life, it did not silence him.
Bélanger used a text-to-voice program on a computer tablet to speak in the House of Commons where he championed a bill to make Canada’s national anthem more gender neutral.
His private member’s bill, which is expected to pass Parliament later this fall, will see the lyrics of O Canada changed from “In all thy sons command” to “In all of us command.”
His funeral ended with mourners singing the “new version” of the anthem.
Catherine Bélanger, second on right, wife of MP Mauril Belanger, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, dignitaries, MPs and family members look on as Bélanger’s casket leaves the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica during his funeral, on Saturday. Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Barclay Easton, stepson of MP Mauril Bélanger, touches Belanger’s casket at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Margaret Trudeau, former governor general Michaëlle Jean, Jean-Daniel LaFond and former prime minister Joe Clark look on during the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday, Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a eulogy at the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Family members including Catherine Bélanger, wife of MP Mauril Bélanger, watch his casket leave the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica following his funeral on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a eulogy at the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Catherine Bélanger, wife of MP Mauril Bélanger, is embraced by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his mother Margaret Trudeau look on, during Bélanger’s funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands with his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and mother Margaret Trudeau following the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Family members of MP Mauril Bélan\ger, including his wife Catherine, place items on his casket outside the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica following his funeral on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Catherine Bélanger, wife of MP Mauril Belanger, smiles as her son Barclay Easton (not shown) delivers a eulogy for his step-father, at Bélanger’s funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
A Canadian flag drapes the casket of MP Mauril Bélanger at his funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Published on: August 27, 2016 | Last Updated: August 27, 2016 5:59 PM EDT
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau touches the casket of MP Mauril Belanger after delivering a eulogy during his funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016 in Ottawa. Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Veteran Ottawa-Vanier Liberal MP Mauril Bélanger was remembered Saturday as a man of the people who inspired hope in those who’d lost faith in politics.
As the Canadian flag flew at half-mast at city hall and on the Peace Tower, approximately 1,200 mourners made their way into the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica to bid a final adieu to the popular parliamentarian.
Bélanger died Aug. 15 at the age of 61 after a difficult battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“You know, we all have someone in our lives who you look at and realize that this person is the glue, that keeps a group of otherwise different people together,” Bélanger’s stepson, Barclay Easton, said as he delivered a very personal eulogy.
“He seemed to be the glue within the Liberal party, within his constituency, within his friends, his brothers and at home with us.”
Bélanger, who represented the citizens of Ottawa-Vanier, was also remembered as a champion of human rights by the constituents who came to honour him.
“I’m feeling a sense of grief but also some satisfaction in knowing that I was able to pay my final respects,” said Leocadie Kabogoye, who came to thank a man she said was a champion of immigrants in Ottawa.
Kabogoye, who works as a settlement agent helping francophone immigrants, said it was not uncommon for Bélanger to “come to the rescue” of newcomers seeking help from their local MP.
“He did everything in his power to help them find a solution,” she said.
Ontario Sen. Jim Munson, who was on a parliamentary visit to Africa with Bélanger earlier this year, described his friend and colleague as “a man of action.”
“I think we should remember him as the man from Mattawa who grew up in Ottawa, who just knew what was right to do.”
“You saw that when he was in Africa, when he was on the streets of Vanier-Ottawa. He cared about the common man, the common person.”
Bélanger was engaged with a number of human rights issues, including the deportation of citizens to Burundi, a country with ongoing security concerns.
“I can say without pause that Bélanger saved lives,” said Charles Makaza, a resident of Hull-Aylmer and a spokesman for the Alliance of Burundis in Canada.
Bélanger was also well-known as a staunch defender of national unity and francophone rights.
Some 20 years ago, he was a key figure in the battle to save Ottawa’s French-language Montfort Hospital — a victory his constituents never forgot.
“At a time when we barely won a referendum in 1995, there was Bélanger … fighting the fight to keep a hospital, a French-speaking hospital, the pride of Francophone Ontario, alive,” Munson said.
Bélanger’s wife, Catherine, was visibly moved by the eulogies, which she listened to from her seat in the first row — to the right of her husband’s flag-draped casket.
Her son, Easton, would go on to tell the story of how she and Bélanger met when the two worked on a political campaign together.
“Apparently, Mauril was very persistent and an eternal romantic. But I need to be clear, it’s my mom were talking about, and I only needed to know so many of the details. But what I do know is that Mauril had a moustache and hair that my mom loved and still loves to this very day.
“I’m sorry prime minister, you’re apparently not the first to have nice hair,” Easton said, drawing a laugh from the mourners, including Trudeau who sat to the left, opposite of his mom.
Trudeau was the first to eulogize his “true friend” whose legacy, he said, would stand the test of time.
Bélanger offered “some great lessons of integrity and humility and grace,” Sophie Grégoire Trudeau said prior to the funeral service.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, former governor general Michaële Jean and former prime minister Joe Clark were also in attendance.
While the progressive brain disease prevented Bélanger from speaking in the final months of his life, it did not silence him.
Bélanger used a text-to-voice program on a computer tablet to speak in the House of Commons where he championed a bill to make Canada’s national anthem more gender neutral.
His private member’s bill, which is expected to pass Parliament later this fall, will see the lyrics of O Canada changed from “In all thy sons command” to “In all of us command.”
His funeral ended with mourners singing the “new version” of the anthem.
Catherine Bélanger, second on right, wife of MP Mauril Belanger, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, dignitaries, MPs and family members look on as Bélanger’s casket leaves the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica during his funeral, on Saturday. Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Barclay Easton, stepson of MP Mauril Bélanger, touches Belanger’s casket at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Margaret Trudeau, former governor general Michaëlle Jean, Jean-Daniel LaFond and former prime minister Joe Clark look on during the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday, Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a eulogy at the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Family members including Catherine Bélanger, wife of MP Mauril Bélanger, watch his casket leave the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica following his funeral on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau delivers a eulogy at the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Catherine Bélanger, wife of MP Mauril Bélanger, is embraced by Sophie Grégoire Trudeau as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his mother Margaret Trudeau look on, during Bélanger’s funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stands with his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau and mother Margaret Trudeau following the funeral for MP Mauril Bélanger at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Family members of MP Mauril Bélan\ger, including his wife Catherine, place items on his casket outside the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica following his funeral on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Catherine Bélanger, wife of MP Mauril Belanger, smiles as her son Barclay Easton (not shown) delivers a eulogy for his step-father, at Bélanger’s funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
A Canadian flag drapes the casket of MP Mauril Bélanger at his funeral at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, on Saturday Justin Tang / THE CANADIAN PRESS
