A man who died outside s Tim Hortons in Langley City on Sunday, Jan. 21, wasn’t homeless. But he was known to the Kimz Angels outreach charity as someone they helped, fondly remembered as a friendly presence on the streets who liked to play his guitar outdoors.
Founder Kim Snow said the man, whom she knew by the name of Gerald, would come to Kimz distributions at a local church.
“He is one of our people,” Snow told the Langley Advance Times. “He comes to the church and gets food.”
As far as she knows, Gerald did have some kind of shelter.
“He’s not on the street, but he does hang out on the streets all day.”
She wasn’t sure how old he was.
BC Emergency Health Services reported receiving a call at 12:09 p.m. regarding a “medical incident” at 203rd Street and Douglas Crescent.
“An ambulance and an advanced care paramedic responder unit responded to the scene. No patients were transported,” said paramedic public information officer Jasprit Khandal.
Witnesses described seeing multiple police at the scene Sunday afternoon, with what appeared to be a body covered by a tarp.
Initial police reports indicate the death was not considered suspicious.
Snow has heard, but could not confirm, that Gerald may have passed away as a result of a heart attack.
Her own opinion is the recent severe weather conditions may have played a part.
“It’s freezing,” Snow noted. “It’s the lifestyle. They’re [our clients] out all the time. They’re cold.”
Gerald loved music, and would sit on a bench outdoors and play his guitar, Snow recalled. He would alter the wording of a song to include references to the charity.
His death has come as a shock to those who knew him, she said.
“He was a very nice fellow. Everybody loved him.”
On Monday, a memorial message could be seen written on the restaurant exterior.
“R.I.P. Gerald,” it read.
“Don’t stop the music.”
Langley Advance Times has reached out to Tim Hortons for comment.
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