Vigil for slain Halifax activist Raymond Taavel draws hundreds

HALIFAX – Raymond Taavel gave the best hugs.

That was what some of the hundreds of people crowded onto the block of Gottingen St., where the 49-year-old was murdered early Tuesday murdered early Tuesday, wanted him to be remembered for.

Others at the candlelight vigil wanted to talk about how he would walk into Menz Bar, where he was before he died, throw you over his shoulder and take you for a spin around the dance floor.

And many of the mourners wanted to note their “peace-loving” friend would not want his violent death to bring more anger.

Taavel was trying to break up a fight between one of his friends and an unknown attacker, when the assailant turned on him.

He was beaten to death outside the club where he had just tapped in the 10 last songs on the jukebox for the night: the final one played in the empty bar at about 5:35 a.m, after he passed away from his injuries.

“It was Ray saying good-bye boys,” bar owner Doug Melanson told the crowd. “I believe that from the bottom of my heart.”

The vigil came together quickly, organized on social media throughout the day Tuesday – much like a campaign to get Facebook users to change their profile pictures to rainbow flags in honour of the gay rights advocate.

Halifax Regional Police was among the individuals and organizations that posted the image on Facebook, in honour of Taavel’s commitment to the community.

Melanson’s was one of several tear-jerking speeches and songs at the gathering.

City councillor Dawn Sloane, whose first campaign for city council Taavel worked on in 2000, says although she’s furious she knows her friend wouldn’t want anyone to resort to anger.

Still, she wants answers and says she intends to look into the matter herself.

32-year-old Andre Noel Denny, was released on an unescorted pass from the East Coast Forensics Unit Monday evening didn’t return from his hour-long leave.

Police arrested him in an alley around the corner from where the assault took place and have charged him with second-degree murder charged him with second-degree murder.

Despite sharing some humorous memories, Sloane had difficulty controlling her tears throughout her speech.

“We just have to think of a few things Raymond taught us. That is to be persistent when someone pushing you back,” Sloane said. “How many people did he love? How many people are standing here – this is just probably a smidgen of the lives that were touched by Raymond.”

Kathy Walsh was a friend of his for many years and is a member of the board of Halifax Pride, for which Traavel had previously served as chairman.

She says the evening was a “heartfelt sending off of a wonderful man.”

“This is our way of saying ‘Good job, Raymond. You brought us together again,” Walsh said.

She says he was such a compassionate man he’d walk around an ant on a sidewalk. “He espoused non-violence.”

For long-time friend Colin MacEachern, the death was a reminder that even though Canada’s Charter of Rights turned 30 on the same day, Taavel’s murder was possibly “the result of something that doesn’t respect the rights of others.”

“I’m a teacher… that’s what I was teaching today,” MacEachern says, “So, it broke my heart.”

Many people have raised concerns Taavel was the victim of a hate crime, as homophobic slurs were reportedly heard during the fatal assault.

Police have not suggest he was targeted because he was gay, but say investigators are considering all possibilities.

Meanwhile, members of the gay community, Taavel’s coworkers at the Shambhala Sun magazine and people involved with the various organizations he was involved with are struggling to say good-bye.

The vigil wrapped up shortly after dark, but mourners continued to light candles along the fence across from the bar, where a makeshift memorial grew throughout the day.

Friends of Taavel’s will hold a fundraiser in his memory Sunday at Menz Bar.