Canadians gathered in multiple cities to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II Monday, in local services and events following her state funeral in London earlier in the day.

In Ottawa, a national tribute service at Christ Church Cathedral included prayers and memories of her many trips to Canada.

Algonquin spiritual adviser and poet Albert Dumont ushered Queen Elizabeth II into the arms of her husband, Prince Philip, who died 17 months earlier.

鈥淚n the land of the red Maple Leaf, the sorrow of many citizens fills the skies,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he tears, the prayers of her admirers take flight, like the geese of spring and autumn, making their way to the Queen Mother, who waits to hold her daughter close to her bosom once again.鈥�

The service followed a short military parade through downtown Ottawa that saw RCMP officers on horseback and members of the Canadian Armed Forces march past the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill.

In London earlier, several Mounties on horseback led the funeral procession, a tribute to her enduring affection for Canada鈥檚 national police force.

Inside Christ Church Cathedral, a who鈥檚 who of Ottawa鈥檚 political elite gathered to remember the queen, including Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and most of the Liberal cabinet, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney delivered a speech remembering the former monarch with fondness.

鈥淪he was extremely intelligent,鈥� he said. 鈥淎 woman of impeccable judgment, resolute, selfless, witty 鈥� very witty 鈥� and kind.鈥�

He also pointed to the role the queen played ending apartheid in South Africa, something Nelson Mandela called his 鈥済reatest triumph.鈥�

Mulroney said that triumph 鈥渨ould never have taken place in the Commonwealth had it not been for Her Majesty鈥檚 discreet, brilliant, and generous guidance and unerring instinct for the victory we all sought.鈥�

Tributes and church services took place from St. John鈥檚 to Victoria Monday. In Newfoundland and Labrador鈥檚 capital, Lt.-Gov. Judy Foote laid a wreath in front of a portrait of the queen during a service at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.

In Winnipeg, a 96-gun salute at the Manitoba legislative building left a trail of smoke and some gathered covering their ears.

Sallie Hunt, who travelled over 200 kilometres to Winnipeg from Kenora, Ont., with a friend to view the salute, said the event offered her a sense of closure.

鈥淪he鈥檚 been the queen all of my life,鈥� Hunt said.

Hunt鈥檚 mother was the same age as the queen. She wore two of her mother鈥檚 rings to acknowledge the connection.

In Edmonton, a modest crowd in raincoats watched solemnly at a service at the Alberta legislature and Lt.-Gov. Salma Lakhani reflected on the queen鈥檚 fondness for Canada.

鈥淭he Commonwealth, as we all know, is an institution that she was dearly committed to,鈥� said Lakhani. 鈥淵our Majesty, we will truly miss you.鈥�

In Toronto, bells rang at Old City Hall, continuing once a minute for 96 straight minutes.

Onlookers gathered in small numbers on surrounding sidewalks, some stopping just for a moment to pay their respects while we others stood silently for minutes.

In Charlottetown, a ceremony at St. Peter鈥檚 Cathedral began with a Mi鈥檏maq drum tribute and song.

And in Victoria, a procession in honour of the queen made its way from the provincial legislature to Christ Church Cathedral. Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin and Premier John Horgan were led by a Royal Canadian Navy band and a 100-member guard of honour.

A riderless horse, symbolizing a fallen comrade, was also part of the procession.

In Ottawa, the parade that began not far from the British consulate included one member carrying the queen鈥檚 Canadian flag, folded and wrapped in plastic to protect it from the rain.

Sandra Tisch and her husband Rob Semancik drove eight hours from Oldcastle, Ont., near Windsor, to take in the event.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been an emotional 10 days,鈥� said Tisch, who brought flowers to drop at the British High Commission and a statue of Queen Elizabeth.

鈥淪he gave her life to her country, and I think she did a lot of good.鈥�

Tisch also got up early to watch the televised funeral service in London.

Alexandra McLean, the descendant of a British war bride who married a Canadian soldier, said she came out to commemorate the work of the queen and what it symbolizes to those who took up arms in her service.

鈥淲e鈥檙e mourning our grandmothers as well,鈥� she said.

鈥淲e are respecting the head of state, constitutional democracy (and) the woman who served us very well, and we鈥檙e honouring the people who loved her, who saw in her service their own service and what gave them strength for that service.鈥�

McLean said that just as King Charles made overtures to the nations of the United Kingdom such as Wales, Canada needs to do more to reconcile with Indigenous nations.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a really complicated moment, and I don鈥檛 think we鈥檒l solve some of these problems without recognizing that they鈥檙e family problems.鈥�

Security was evident but not overt, as Ottawa municipal police officers rode on bicycles alongside the marchers in the parade. Snipers were positioned on some building roofs around the downtown area.

鈥擬ia Rabson, Laura Osman and Dylan Robertson, The Canadian Press