Final Calgary stabbing victim funeral held for Lawrence Hong

Family and friends said goodbye Wednesday afternoon to Lawrence Hong at the final funeral for the five young adults stabbed to death last week in northwest Calgary.

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The service for the27-year-old was heldat the Centre Street Church in northeast Calgary.

"It means so much that we are not alone in our grief," said younger brother Miles Hong, who gave theeulogy.

Both born in the Philippines, Miles talked about beingfour years younger than Lawrence.

"When we first came to Canada, he cared for me so much," he said.

Calgary Transit also madearrangements to takemourners to the funeral duringa special bus servicebecause Hong who was one final exam away from graduatingfrom the urban studies program at the University of Calgarywasa strong supporter of sustainable transportation.

David Cooper, a senior planner at Calgary transit who teaches at the U of C, described Hong as an amazing student who "pushed himself really hard."

"Lawrence was selfless in his pursuit to build community," he said."He taught me more about lifethan I taught him."

Hong was killed at a party in Brentwood that was marking the end of the university semester on April 15 along with Joshua Hunter, 23, Kaitlin Perras, 23, Zackariah Rathwell, 21, and Jordan Segura, 22.

Matthew de Grood, 22, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths.

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He has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination to determine if he is fit to stand trial.