June 2024 visit to Cote des Neiges Cemetery, Montreal

Cote des Neiges Cemetery is still overgrown with weeds, grass, etc., 
because of a prolonged strike in 2024

On the right is Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum, he was one
of the Fathers of Canadian Confederation

This is where many members of my family are buried 

Note: Cote des Neiges Cemetery is located on Mount Royal; CDN Cemetery is adjacent to Mount Royal Cemetery. They are the largest cemeteries in Canada. Mount Royal Park is a huge park in downtown Montreal, it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who designed other famous parks in North America.

Thomas D’Arcy McGee, a visit to his mausoleum

Visiting Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum, at Cote des Neiges Cemetery, fourteen years ago, on 20 April 2010. The other mausoleums along this road belonged to the families of prominent Montrealers of that time, the mid- to late-1800s.

Thomas D'Arcy McGee, born on this day in 1825

From the library of Canada's website:

Born in Ireland in 1825, Thomas D’Arcy McGee was a poet, journalist, author, Irish patriot, Canadian politician and Father of Confederation. Forced to flee the country of his birth, he immigrated to the United States in 1848, then settled in Montréal in 1857. He was originally a strong advocate for Irish rebellion against the British, but his stance changed over the years to pushing for peaceful reforms. McGee was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1857, where he became a vocal supporter of Confederation. He was assassinated on April 7, 1868, in Ottawa, and was given Canada’s first state funeral.

One of our greatest Canadians, Thomas D'Arcy McGee, was born on this day, 13 April 1825, in Carlingford, Ireland. 

Photographs of Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum

When I used to visit Cote des Neiges Cemetery (and adjoining Mount Royal Cemetery), both located in the center of Montreal on Mount Royal, I would visit Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum. Over the years I visited McGee's final resting place any number of times, it was part of my itinerary when I visited both cemeteries. Here are some photographs of McGee's mausoleum at Cote des Neiges Cemetery; these are photographs I took between 2012 to 2018 and others that interested me. 

Thomas D'Arcy McGee

God bless you, Mr. McGee.

Death of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, 7 April 1868

On this day, 7 April 1868, almost a year after Canadian Confederation, Thomas D'Arcy McGee was assassinated in Ottawa. There was an incredible outpouring of grief, he was well known as a politician working towards Confederation and he was one of Sir John A. Macdonald's closest friends. McGee was assassinated outside of his rooming house, located within walking distance of Parliament in Ottawa; his funeral in Montreal was the largest funeral for a Canadian politician, statesman, and poet.

The funeral cortege in Montreal, 1868

Wanted poster for the assassin of Thomas D'Arcy McGee

The funeral cortege in Montreal, 1868

McGee mausoleum at Cote des Neiges Cemetery, 2015

Notman photograph of McGee's Mausoleum, 1926

McGee's mausoleum, 2015

McGee's mausoleum, November 2015

McGee's mausoleum, November 2015

Stephen Morrissey outside of Thomas D'Arcy McGee's mausoleum, winter 2015

At McGee's Mausoleum, 2012