Jannaï Dopwell-Bailey laid to rest as calls to tackle rising Montreal crime continue

It was a celebration of his love for his family, for his friends and for life but also a painful reminder of how it all ended so abruptly and violently.

Family and friends of Jannaï Dopwell-Bailey laid him to his final rest on Friday.

Dozens attended the teen’s memorial service at St Paul’s Anglican Church in his neighbourhood of Côte-des-Neiges.

It was a celebration of his love for his family, for his friends and for life.

“What a sense of humour he had. He would’ve definitely gotten into acting. He had so much potential; he was capable of great things. What a person,” said Kevin George, Dopwell Bailey’s cousin and godfather.

“He loved dancing and rapping. Always happy and energetic — a peacemaker who brought people together. He was the soul of the group and at the same time, the goofy one.”

But Dopwell-Bailey’s memorial was also a painful reminder of how all that potential and life ended so abruptly and violently.

Dopwell-Bailey was stabbed to death in front if his school in Côte-des-Neiges last month after a fight broke out between a group of teenagers.

He was only 16 years-old.