Volunteers John Green, left, and Gerald Wright construct a scale model of RMS Titanic at the the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2011.
The Nova Scotia government has planned a series of solemn tributes to commemorate 100 years since the Titanic sank in the icy North Atlantic.
The signature events include a candlelight procession through downtown Halifax on April 14, and an interfaith memorial service on April 15 — the day the luxury liner sank after striking an iceberg south of the Grand Banks, killing 1,500 of the 2,200 people aboard.
Visitors from around the world are expected to come to Halifax to mark the grim anniversary, Tourism Minister Percy Paris told a news conference Thursday at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
"Our Maritime heritage and culture make us uniquely able to mark this historic, solemn occasion, and tell the world about our important role in the tragic story," Mr. Paris said.
The procession through Halifax will make its way past several Titanic-related sites and end at the Grand Parade, the public square in front of Halifax City Hall.
After a series of presentations and live performances, a moment of silence will mark the moment when the ship started sinking at 12:20 a.m. Churches in the city will ring their bells and ships in the harbour will sound their horns.
The interfaith service, which will include a wreath laying and musical performances, will take place at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax on April 15 at 3 p.m.
More than 120 victims of the Titanic disaster are buried at the cemetery. Another 30 victims are buried at two other cemeteries in the city.