QUEBEC – Former chair of the National Capital Commission (NCC) and Mayor of Hull, Marcel Beaudry was laid to rest Saturday afternoon at a service that featured a tribute by former Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Hundreds of people attended the funeral held at St. Joseph church in Gatineau to say goodbye.

Former Prime Minister Chretien spoke about Beaudry and called him “the gentleman of the Outaouais.”

Beaudry ran the NCC from 1992 to 2006, making him the longest serving chair of the federal commission, and he is also credited with reshaping the face of Ottawa-Gatineau.

He oversaw several projects during his time as chairman of the NCC- including the Canadian War Museum and the renovation of the Champlain bridge.

Beaudry was married for 48 years when his wife passed away in 2006.

He died on November 23rd of cancer. He was 79 years old.