Grief counsellors were in Berwick, N.S. on Friday, helping residents who are struggling after a homeless man was killed in a suspicious fire Wednesday morning.
Harley Lawrence had been sleeping in a bus shelter on Commercial Street when the structure caught fire.
About 2,500 people live in Berwick and many are convinced the fire that killed the 62-year-old man was deliberately set.
At this point, police will only say the fire and Lawrence’s death are considered suspicious.
“I think it’s really time we get some answers,” says area resident Roxie Redden.
People in the community say Lawrence had become a familiar face on the streets of Berwick and had been living in the Commercial Street bus shelter.
Police and fire crews were called to a fire at the bus shelter around 2:10 a.m. Wednesday. They found Lawrence’s body when they arrived at the scene.
The bus shelter has since been turned into a makeshift memorial, as flowers, candles, cards and artwork continue to pour into the site.
Grief counsellors are also on hand to help residents who are struggling with the tragedy. A handful of people accessed the service on Friday.
Dr. John Campbell, the director of Mental Health and Addictions Services with Annapolis Valley Health, says nothing more could have been done to help Lawrence because he refused help.
“We did reach out to this individual,” says Campbell. “The RCMP had been monitoring the situation but they had no grounds to take action.”
Campbell says there has been a government review of the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act and, up to this point, no changes have been made, which means those who live with mental health issues have the right to refuse help.
Berwick Mayor Ron Clarke says Lawrence had recently taken a turn and become verbally aggressive with some residents.
He also says they were close to getting Lawrence off the streets.
“There were complaints that were coming to police and they were in the process of trying to work out a charge of some sort that would allow him to get remanded for some psychiatric help,” says Clarke.
But that didn’t happen, and some residents say the delay may have led to his death.
“I hope whoever did it, if they have any heart in them at all, will think about what they’ve done and confess,” says Redden. “At least get it out of their system. I wouldn’t want it on my conscious.”
A candlelight vigil will be held for Lawrence in the Foodland parking lot at 9 p.m. Saturday.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Alyse Hand
