Four separate memorial services to mark the crash of Swissair Flight 111 begin today and continue tomorrow.

229 people were killed when the plane went down off Peggy's Cove last September.

About 650 relatives of those who died are in Nova Scotia to take part in the ceremonies.

Last year hundreds of volunteers met the Swissair families as they arrived, drove them around Nova Scotia and provided comfort for them.

Claudia Blakeney of the RCMP helped the families last year and has organized a similar network of support this year.

"A lot of the drivers are the same ones as last year and specifically requested months ago to be involved."

The families have two difficult days ahead of them. A private interment and dedication service was held Wednesday morning. A memorial to the crash victims was dedicated at Whalesback near Peggy's Cove Wednesday afternoon.

A commemorative gathering to be attended by Prime Minister Jean Chretien will take place tomorrow evening to be followed by a public service on Citadel Hill in Halifax.

The candlelight memorial service will include a moment of silence at the exact time Swissair Flight 111 crashed into the ocean off Peggy's Cove.