Family and friends of Ryan Gillis gathered in his hometown of Sydney Mines, N.S. on Tuesday to say goodbye to a young man whose remarkable story of addiction recovery has inspired people across Canada.

Gills died in a car accident in Alberta last week, just two years after turning his life around from serious drug addiction. Those who knew him say they were the best two years of his 30-year life.

“He started listening to himself and loved himself and grew happy and just, he grew addicted to helping people,” says his brother, Jeff Gillis.

Gillis started using drugs at the age of 13, became an IV drug user at the age of 21, and spent years in and out of jail and recovery houses.

In October 2012, Gillis joined a 12-step program and started receiving treatment for liver disease. Then he decided to take a friend’s advice and try yoga, which helped him get healthy and stay sober.

Gillis inspired many as he used yoga to overcome his addiction and turn his life around. He quickly became a positive role model for others suffering from addiction and also for those in the yoga community as he dedicated his life to teaching youth about the dangers of drugs and the power of yoga.

He was honoured for his hard work at the Courage to Give Back awards in January.

For family friend Shaunna Gillis, who lost her son to addiction five years ago, the impact of his message is immeasurable.

“I didn’t understand the disease of addiction when we went through it with Roddie, but Ryan helped me understand it,” says Shaunna.      

Hundreds of people packed into The Holy Family Catholic Church to say goodbye to Gillis - a gesture his friends say he could not have imagined during the depths of his addiction.

“Even when he was going through his difficult times, he still loved everybody,” says his aunt Belinda Gillis. “He’d meet you on the street, come over and give you a hug and say, ‘hi, I love ya.’”

Gillis had befriended a little girl named Allysha during a trip to Africa. Now, funds are being raised to try and bring her to Canada to live.

“That was his dream, was to bring her to Canada,” says Jeff.

Liam Gillis says his brother’s message to stay clean and love life will live on for years.

“He just wanted to help others and for sure, his message is going to be carried out for a very long time.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald