A homeless man who touched the lives of many people in the Halifax-area is finally on his way home.
Leslie MacPherson died in October after living on the streets in Dartmouth for years. But now, he is returning to his native British Columbia.
“Oh, the Maritimes are beautiful,” said MacPherson in an interview with CTV News in September. “New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.”
MacPherson died just 22 days after the story aired.
An obituary published this week says he grew up on a farm in B.C. He loved hockey and country music - especially Johnny Cash - but struggled with mental health issues, especially after his mother died.
A short service was held Wednesday in Dartmouth where many came to know him. MacPherson refused to beg, but willingly accepted gifts from a growing collection of people who simply wanted to help.
"He certainly made his mark on the lives of so many people," said Father Jim Richards of St. Peter’s Parish.
There's an emptiness these days at the Tim Hortons where he spent much of his time. Staff still call an area where MacPherson would sit ‘Leslie's Booth’.
"There was no frills about him, this is just how he was,” said coffee shop manager Cheryl Meade.
Almost 100 people came to say farewell, many clearly touched by the man they only knew from the street.
“Heard a number of stories about him, how he, in his own unique way, touched a lot of people's lives and helped them touch his life, too,” said Father Richards.
"They knew him from being on the streets and being able to help him, and he touched everybody’s heart,” said Dartmouth councillor Gloria McCluskey.
His final journey will be a big one – just the way he’d like it. He'll cross the country one more time before being laid to rest in British Columbia with his mother.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Bruce Frisko.
