22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Montreal Gazette
Funeral for Philippe II de Gaspé Beaubien to be held May 31 in Montreal
The funeral for Philippe II de Gaspé Beaubien, the Montreal entrepreneur and philanthropist who helped organize Expo 67, will be held on Saturday, May 31 at Mary Queen of the World Cathedral in Montreal.
De Gaspé Beaubien died on April 9. He was 97.
The ceremony, set to begin at 10 a.m. and presided over by Archbishop Christian Lépine, will be open to the public.
Guests are asked to arrive from 9 a.m., with seating available upon advance registration.
Tributes will be delivered by members of his family, and a recorded message from de Gaspé Beaubien himself will also be shared.
The ceremony will feature musical performances from soprano Sarah Dufresne, tenor Éric Thériault, a string quartet, and 16 choristers. The program includes works by Fauré, Bach, Franck, Mozart, and Schubert, as well as selections of 'Parlez-moi d'amour' and 'Perhaps Love.'
A prominent figure in Canadian public life for decades, de Gaspé Beaubien played a key role in Expo 67 and went on to champion environmental causes, notably through AquaAction, a charity focused on freshwater protection. Donations in his memory can be made to the organization.
