A man who died outside s Tim Hortons in 91原创 City on Sunday, Jan. 21, wasn鈥檛 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.
鈥淗e is one of our people,鈥� Snow told the 91原创 Advance Times. 鈥淗e comes to the church and gets food.鈥�
As far as she knows, Gerald did have some kind of shelter.
鈥淗e鈥檚 not on the street, but he does hang out on the streets all day.鈥�
She wasn鈥檛 sure how old he was.
BC Emergency Health Services reported receiving a call at 12:09 p.m. regarding a 鈥渕edical incident鈥� at 203rd Street and Douglas Crescent.
鈥淎n ambulance and an advanced care paramedic responder unit responded to the scene. No patients were transported,鈥� 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.
鈥淚t鈥檚 freezing,鈥� Snow noted. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the lifestyle. They鈥檙e [our clients] out all the time. They鈥檙e cold.鈥�
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.
鈥淗e was a very nice fellow. Everybody loved him.鈥�
On Monday, a memorial message could be seen written on the restaurant exterior.
鈥淩.I.P. Gerald,鈥� it read.
鈥淒on鈥檛 stop the music.鈥�
91原创 Advance Times has reached out to Tim Hortons for comment.
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