Former Israeli leader Shimon Peres died early Wednesday morning in Israel.

The former prime minister was so respected that even Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas expressed grief of his passing, called Peres a brave partner for peace.

Flags in Israel were lowered to half-mast as Israelis stopped to remember his seven-decade career.

Peres was groomed for power by Israel's founding father Ben Gurion, and was first elected to parliament in 1959.

He served two terms as prime minister, and was credited with creating Israel's nuclear arsenal in the 1950s.

Peres supported the creation of a Palestinian state and held secret negotiations with the PLO in the 1990s that led to the Oslo Accords, and a Nobel Peace Prize.

It was during a four day visit by Peres to Canada in 2012 that Rabbi Reuben Poupko met Peres, when he spoke at the Shaare Hashomayim Synagogue.

"They gathered around him as they would a rock star, but with real emotion as if their grandfather had shown up during a difficult period to give comfort and solace," said Rabbi Poupko.

Cote St. Luc City Councillor Glenn Nashen also met Peres.

"His way of conveying a message of peace, of hope were inspirational that transcended geographical boundaries and transcended religion," said Nashen.

Irwin Cotler said Peres also embraced technology and encouraged Israel to become a world leader in innovation.

"I remember being in Israel for his 90th birthday and the people who feted him as much as anyone else with the young people of Israel. Because he spoke their language and he spoke the language of hope and he spoke the language of the future," said Cotler.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre issued a statement about the former PM's death.

'It is with great sadness that we learned of the death of Mr. Shimon Peres, former president and prime minister of Israel. We will remember in particular his role in the peace agreements that have earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994, together with Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin. A statesman who made history, he continued his commitment to the end of his life including through the Peres Center for Peace that he set up to promote reconciliation, tolerance and cooperation in the Middle East. I offer my condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Peres and to the people of Israel. ''

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend a memorial service for Peres on Friday in Israel.