Mourners gather in Montreal to say goodbye to former prime minister Brian Mulroney

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney — a man whose efforts to reshape Canada earned both praise and controversy — will be laid to rest with a state funeral in Montreal today.

Mulroney, who served as Canada's 18th prime minister from 1984 to 1993, died surrounded by his family in Florida on Feb. 29. He was 84.

CBC News' special coverage of the state funeral begins at 9 a.m. ET on Saturday. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. ET at the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal.

Mulroney's daughter Caroline will eulogize her father, along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canadian media baron Pierre Karl Péladeau, former Quebec premier Jean Charest and hockey legend Wayne Gretzky. Former U.S. secretary of state James Baker will address the funeral by video link.

Only those invited will be permitted into the Basilica on Saturday.

The funeral ceremony will feature prayers, readings, hymns and a communion to be delivered by Archbishop of Montréal Christian Lépine and Miguel Castellanos, rector of Notre-Dame Basilica.

Mulroney will be remembered for doing 'big things': Trudeau

A skilled politician and engaging speaker, Mulroney took on politics in a way that was both admired and attacked.

On the day he died, Trudeau said that Mulroney will be long remembered for pursuing «big things» in office.

«Whether one agrees with our solutions or not, none will accuse us of having chosen to evade our responsibilities by side-stepping the most controversial issues of our time,» Mulroney said in his February 1993 resignation address.

«I've done the very best for my country and my party.»

Mulroney's efforts brought about the North American Free Trade Agreement, changing and deepening the economic relationship between Canada, the United States and Mexico. He