Family of Raymond Taavel gets apology from province

HALIFAX – Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine apologized on behalf of the province to the family of Raymond Taavel on the floor of the legislature Wednesday morning.

“We hope this apology will help all those affected to continue on a path toward healing,” Glavine said.

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Taavel, 49, was beaten to death outside Menz Bar on Gottingen Street on April 17, 2012.

Andre Denny, a patient at the East Coast Forensic Hospital at the time, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Taavel’s death on November 10.

“The family certainly accepts the apology, recognizes the work that the government has done in the wake of Raymond’s death and is now ready to move forward as best they can and put this behind them,” Marc Dunning, the lawyer representing Taavel’s family, said.

The apology was part of a legal settlement between the government and Taavel’s family. However a lawsuit against the Nova Scotia Health Authority is ongoing. The family is seeking damages for Taavel’s death.

READ MORE: Campaign launched to create public art in honour of Halifax activist Raymond Taavel

WATCH: Province of Nova Scotia apologizes to the family of Raymond Taavel.

Taavel’s partner, Darren Lewis, was in the gallery when the apology was made, however, he didn’t speak to media afterward.

Denny was allowed to leave the hospital on a one-hour un-escorted pass. However, he didn’t return to the facility on time, and at the time Taavel was killed, police were searching for Denny. Many people believe Taavel would still be alive had the psychiatric patient not been let out.

Taavel’s death spurred review

A joint review of the East Coast Forensic Hospital’s day leave privileges “identified significant gaps where improvements were required to ensure the protection of the general public,” Glavine said in his apology.

Eighteen recommendations were made in the report and Glavine said the province has implemented all of them.

The family also requested a GPS tracking program for forensic patients who get leave from the hospital, however a government study determined that wasn’t “feasible,” Glavine said.

The family’s lawyer says the lack of GPS tracking is a concern.

“It’s the family’s hope that that will eventually happen at some point in the future,” Dunning said.

Taavel was a fixture in Halifax’s gay community and was well known for his advocacy work. His death was devastating to many people in the city.

He was trying to break up a fight between Denny and another person when Denny turned on Taavel and brutally killed him.