‘Homeless Hero’ Faron Hall laid to rest

WINNIPEG — A casket carrying a man many in Winnipeg consider a hero was laid to rest Wednesday.

Faron Hall’s funeral, attended by close friends and family, was held at Thunderbird House at 11 a.m., followed by a burial at Brookside Cemetery.

Hall was pulled from the Red River on Aug. 17.

“As far as I’m concerned, where Faron is now, he’s not walking like we are here, he’s dancing,” said friend Gabe.

Hall jumped into the Red River to save teen Joseph Mousseau from drowning five years ago.

Four months later, he jumped in a second time in an attempt to rescue two friends, but he was only able to save one.

After receiving the Mayor’s Medal of Valour and two commendations from the Royal Lifesaving Society, Hall donated $1,000 to the Main Street Project to help homeless youth, an issue he was passionate about after living on the streets himself.

“We should support each other regardless of whether they’re street people or not,” Gabe said, “not only when they pass on. We should do it while they’re alive.”

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs is hoping to create a memorial in Hall’s honour.