Life and politics

Friends, family, colleagues and peers gathered in Montreal yesterday for the funeral of Mario Lague.

Friends, family, colleagues and peers gathered in Montreal yesterday for the funeral of Mario Lague.

Ignatieff spoke briefly during the service and called Lague a team leader. The Liberal leader admitted he had a habit of taking things seriously, but that Lague would just roll his eyes and tell him that “this too shall pass.” In a final moving gesture, Ignatieff placed his hand on Lague’s coffin and said “Au revoir, Mario.”

Adam Goldenberg, Mr. Ignatieff’s speechwriter, was preparing to rejoin the Liberal tour on Thursday morning and has written about learning of Mr. Lague’s passing and the continuation of work the next day in Winnipeg. After pausing for a few days, the tour resumes this evening in Whitehorse.