A motorcade with a hearse carrying the body of former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed arrived at the Alberta legislature Sunday night.

Lougheed will lie in state in the rotunda of the legislature on Monday and Tuesday.

The motorcade left a Calgary funeral home Sunday afternoon and included a convoy of police vehicles. It arrived at the legislature at 7 p.m.

The casket was greeted by dignitaries and an honour guard of RCMP members when it arrived, and was carried across a red carpet into the legislature building.

The public viewing hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The casket will be closed during the public viewing at the legislature.

Albertans will have the opportunity to pay their respects to Lougheed at those times, and through books of condolences which will be made available across the province.

Books of condolences will be made available from Sept. 17 to 28 at:

  • Legislature in Edmonton – 107 Street and 97 Avenue
  • McDougall Centre in Calgary – 455 6 Street
  • Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray – 515 Mackenzie Boulevard
  • Provincial Building in Grande Prairie – 10320 99 Street
  • Provincial Building in Lethbridge – 200 5 Avenue S
  • Provincial Building in Medicine Hat – 346 3 Street SE
  • Provincial Building in Red Deer – 4920 51 Street

The Legislature and McDougall Centre is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Other provincial buildings are open from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday – with the exception of the Fort McMurray site, which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday.

The first day the books of condolences will be made available in Fort McMurray is Tuesday, Sept. 18.

Albertans can also share their condolences online - where a number of condolences have already been posted.

"A great man, a great Albertan and a great Canadian," writes Mark Jewell of Edmonton. "He will be remembered amongst the best and brightest Canada has to offer."

 "Mr. Lougheed was the greatest Canadian Premier in recent history," writes Gilbert Canning of Leduc. "He love(d) both his country and his province and left a great and lasting legacy for all."

"We are blessed to have had your leadership and vision," writes Ken and Phyllis Hennig. "Peace and love to your family."Lougheed died on Thursday night at the of 84. He is considered one of the best premiers in Canada. He was Alberta's tenth premier and served for 14 years. He's been called the 'Father of Modern Day Alberta' and is responsible for shaping much of what the province is today.

Details of a public memorial are expected to be announced in the coming days.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, "donations or volunteer actions that support his charitable interests" are preferred. The family lists the Banff Centre and the Lougheed House Conservation Society as two organizations to contribute to.

With files from Kevin Armstrong and The Canadian Press