Pianist Oliver Jones honoured with public funeral at Petite-Bourgogne church
The Montreal jazz icon, who died at 91, will be remembered Thursday at Union United Church, where he began playing at age five.
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Oliver Jones, the iconic Montreal jazz pianist who died July 22 at age 91, will be honoured with a public funeral Thursday at Union United Church in Petite-Bourgogne—the very church where he began playing piano at just five years old.
The ceremony is set for 1 p.m. and is expected to draw family, friends, musicians, and community members. Before the funeral, the City of Montreal is holding a lying-in-state Wednesday, August 19, from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hall of Honour in Montreal's city hall.
Union United Church holds deep significance in Montreal jazz history. Petite-Bourgogne was the heart of the city's Black community for decades and produced some of Canada's most influential jazz pianists—Oscar Peterson, his sister Daisy Peterson Sweeney, and Ilene Bourne all emerged from this neighbourhood. Jones built an international career spanning more than seven decades, earning multiple jazz awards, honorary doctorates, the Order of Canada, and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.
Despite his global success, Jones remained rooted in Montreal, performing at the Montreal International Jazz Festival annually from 1981 to 1999. Giant screens will be set up outside the church Thursday to accommodate those who cannot fit inside. Limited outdoor seating will be available to the public from noon.
The details
When is Oliver Jones's funeral?
The funeral is Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 1 p.m. at Union United Church in Petite-Bourgogne.
Where can people pay respects before the funeral?
The City of Montreal is holding a lying-in-state at the Hall of Honour in Montreal's city hall on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from 1:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
How can people watch the funeral if they can't fit inside the church?
Giant screens will be set up outside Union United Church, with limited outdoor seating available to the public starting at noon on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
