A Cape Breton man who went out west to find work has died following an altercation in Edmonton.

Ashley John George MacNeil hoped to find work in Alberta so he could provide for his family back home in Sydney Mines, N.S.

After spending a day looking for work as a pipe fitter, he and a friend went back to their motel in Edmonton’s west end.

Friends say MacNeil, 34, stepped outside around 2 a.m. and soon after, police were called to the motel lobby. MacNeil had stumbled inside, with multiple stab wounds to his upper body.

Police say it appears MacNeil got into a fight with another man in the parking lot. He later died in hospital.

MacNeil had only been in Edmonton for two days when he was stabbed to death. No arrests have been made.

“We’re currently looking for witnesses that may have been around, or heard something, or seen something,” says Edmonton Police Staff Sgt. Barry Maron.

MacNeil’s long-time friend Chris Saunders says everyone who knew him feels numb with loss.

“He had more friends than anybody I know,” says Saunders. “He was loved, he was caring, he was kind, compassionate, outgoing. He loved sports, loved his children.”

MacNeil leaves behind two sons, aged 15 and four. Saunders says they were his greatest passion.

“He’d do anything for you. Work on your car, build your house, you name it,” says Saunders. “If he couldn’t, it was because he was there for his kids. They were number one.”

MacNeil’s family is asking for privacy, but they are also asking for justice for the young father.

Police say they have few leads in the case.

“He had a big future ahead of him and it was cut way too short,” says Saunders.

“It’s not fair. He’s a working man. He went out to make some money out west, like a lot of us do, and he didn’t come home.”

He hopes someone comes forward with information about his friend’s death.

“We need help finding the person or people who did this to him, to bring him to justice.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald