For the first time in decades, a former Ottawa mayor will lie in state at Ottawa City Hall for a public memorial.
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For the first time in decades, a former Ottawa mayor will lie in state at Ottawa City Hall for a public memorial. The body of Marion Dewar will arrive with an honour guard on Thursday morning.
Dewar died earlier this week after suffering a serious fall in Toronto. She served as Ottawa's mayor from 1978 to 1985 and spent a year as an NDP Member of Parliament in 1987. Her son, Paul, followed in her political footsteps and is the current NDP MP candidate for the Ottawa-Centre riding.
Dewar is being remembered as a great social advocate who opened up dialogues with the gay and lesbian community and helped launch Project 4,000, which helped bring 4,000 Vietnamese refugees to the capital.
She will be the first former mayor to lie in state since the death of Charlotte Whitton back in 1975. A book of condolences for Dewar is available for signing at city hall during regular business hours. Visitations on Thursday run from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.. Her funeral will be on Friday at St. Basil's Church.
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