There was a short ecumenical service held at the Island cemetery attended also by the Minister Sheila Copps and the Hon. Gilbert Normand, Secretary of State for Agriculture and Food. The party moved to the Celtic Cross erected in the last century to commemorate those Irish people who died and those priests, nurses and doctors who also succumbed to typhus while looking after them. Before leaving the island, the party saw a horse drawn ambulance which has been preserved and visited the last of the 'hospital' buildings which housed Irish immigrants and which is being restored and preserved by Parks Canada. Grosse Ile, Qu bec President visits Grosse Ile.
Today is a public holiday in Canada.
Liz O' Donnell met with the Lieutenant Governor of Quebec, The Honourable Lise Thibault, at her offices in Quebec City. Later the President met representatives of the Quebec Irish Community. This morning's Globe and Mail, Canada's main daily newspaper, carried this front page photograph of President McAleese with Dr. Martin McAleese and the Canadian Minister Sheila Copps at Grosses Ile on Sunday. They were photographed at the glass panel on which the names of those known to have been buried on Grosse Ile have been etched. On the way to the Lieutenant Governor's Office, the President and Dr. McAleese, with the Minister of State, paused for a photograph with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police who are accompanying them during the State Visit.