In the hours after Ottawa-area Mountie Supt. Doug Coates' body was discovered Saturday inside the United Nations headquarters in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, several high-ranking officials had fond memories and high praise for his work there.

Coates -- the eighth Canadian confirmed dead in the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed tens of thousands in the island nation -- leaves behind his wife, Lise, as well as children Luc, Julie and Mathieu.

No funeral arrangements have yet been announced, and there is no word yet on when his remains will be repatriated on Canadian soil.

According to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Coates "devoted much of his career to peacekeeping and bringing stability to Haiti."

The father of three first flew to Haiti in 1993, and returned several times to the country before being named the UN's acting commissioner for the region in 2009.

"He was doing the job that he loved at the UN headquarters when the massive earthquake struck," Harper said in a statement.

"We wish to thank the brave Canadians who remain in Haiti, as well as those in the international community who have worked tirelessly to locate Supt. Coates' remains in the most chaotic and difficult of circumstances."

Award-winning work in Haiti

Others, like Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan, said they were "deeply saddened" by the death of Coates, who in his lifetime earned awards ranging from a peacekeeping medal to the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.

"He will be remembered for his passion and commitment to making streets safer in Canada and Haiti," Van Loan stated, adding, "His untimely death is a tragic loss for the RCMP and all Canadians."

In a news conference on Saturday that brought news of his death to the general public, RCMP commissioner William Elliott said it had been difficult for the force during this time of tragedy.

Coates is the second Mountie to lose his life in Haiti; Mark Gallagher's body was discovered just a couple of days beforehand.

"I have had the opportunity to witness first hand the passion and commitment Canadian police officers bring to their work to better the lives of  Haitians, having traveled to Haiti twice with Doug and others," Elliot said.

"It was truly humbling to witness the courage and commitment of our Canadian police contingent."