The funeral of Fritznel Richard, the Haitian whose body was found earlier this month near the US border, took place on Sunday afternoon.
More than three dozen people had moved into the Montreal North funeral home to attend the ceremony.
The Sûreté du Québec believes that the 44-year-old man probably died of hypothermia while trying to enter the United States.
Richardson Charles Alida, one of the few people present who knew Mr. Richard, said his friend had decided to return to see his wife and one of his sons living in the United States. The unfortunate also thought it would be easier to obtain a residence status in this country.
Her other son, 11, lives in Haiti.
Frantz André, spokesperson for the Non-Status Action Committee, said Mr. Richard was awaiting a work permit at the time of his death.
Mr. Richard’s death inspired a movement of solidarity within the Haitian community in Montreal. The funeral home provided much of its services for free, while members of the community clubbed together to pay for the rest.
Mr. Richard’s body was found in a wooded area in St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, near Roxham Road, a popular crossing point for asylum seekers coming to Canada.
Of the 39,540 asylum seekers intercepted by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police along the border in 2022, 39,171 were in Quebec.
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