Manitoba

Family holds vigil for man attacked at Winnipeg bus shack

The family of a man who died after being seriously beaten at a Winnipeg bus stop gathered at the site to say their goodbyes Friday.

Miles Monias, 37, died in hospital after he was found beaten in Winnipeg April 10

Miles Monias died of injuries he sustained when he was attacked at a Winnipeg bus shack April 10. His father Ron Monias (right) and a group of others held a vigil at the bus shelter in the area of Main Street and Pioneer Avenue Friday. (CBC)

The family of a man who died after being seriously beaten at a Winnipeg bus stop gathered at the site to say their goodbyes Friday.

Miles Monias died in hospital after he was attacked and found in downtown Winnipeg at Main Street and Pioneer Avenue April 10.

John Ostamas has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death. He has also been charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of Stoney Bushie, 48, and Donald Collins, 65.
This map shows the locations, dates and addresses of the incidents police say are tied to the deaths of two men last weekend, the police investigation April 27 involving dumpsters behind Siloam Mission, and the death earlier this month of Miles Monias, who was found assaulted in a bus shelter. (CBC)

Monias's family and friends honoured him with a song, prayer and a birthday cake at the bus stop.

His father, Ron Monias, said his son died just hours before his 37th birthday.

Monias said his son had recently fallen on hard times. Miles and his girlfriend had broken up and he had been between homes for about three weeks.

"Miles had said, 'Use good memories of me to heal your heart,' and that's what I'm going to do," said Monias, who is from Garden Hill First Nation.

Ostamas's arrest brought the family some closure, Monias said.

"It's a start for our healing process," he told CBC earlier this week, adding he forgives his son's killer.

"It made me really sad for that person [Ostamas]. The first initial thoughts we had were to forgive this man."​

The Monias family offered thanks to everyone who came in contact with their son at the Friday service —  including the paramedics, doctors, nurses and Winnipeg police who all had a hand in trying to save Miles.

Miles Monias was found beaten in a bus Shelter on Main Street on April 10. He later died from his injuries. (Facebook)