www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 2, 2015 | 4 Clockwise from above, Max Khan's father, Mahmood Khan speaks at his son's funeral prayers Monday. Mahmood receives a hug from Halton Region Chair Gary Carr -- and also former Ontario premier and federal Liberal leader Bob Rae. Among the speakers at the service were former Toronto mayor now Toronto Councillor Rob Ford, Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and federal Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau. | photos by Justin Greaves Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook. com/HaltonPhotog) Hundreds attend prayers for Max Khan Family and friends joined by Justin Trudeau, Bob Rae and Rob Ford A father to a young son, Khan was also the federal Liberal candidate in the new Oakville-North Burlington riding. He had battled leukemia several times in his life and, at one point, even left council for nearly four months as he fought a relapse of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, before returning in early 2012. "It's inconceivable to all of us who knew and loved Max that someone with such an extraordinary force for life is no longer with us," said Trudeau. "Max was incredibly excited about the opportunity to serve our country as a member of parliament for Oakville and he worked incredibly hard and it is dumbfounding to all of us, his friends, his family and his larger Liberal family that he is not with us, but we will remember his positive strength, his spirit, his dedication to service and his conviction that the work we do here today and every day will lead to a better world of peace and justice for all." Council colleagues present Khan's Town council friends and colleagues were also present for this final farewell. Among them were Halton Region Chair Gary Carr, Oakville Fire Chief Lee Grant, Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie, and many others. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton spoke to the gathering about a story Khan had told him in which someone had spray painted by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff He may have lived just 46 years, but the number of people who attended Ward 6 Councillor Max Khan's funeral prayers was befitting someone who had lived twice as long. Hundreds packed the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) centre at 2200 South Sheridan Way in Mississauga where funeral prayers were held for Khan Monday afternoon. So many attended, not everyone could gather inside the centre's mosque, with some having to view the service from connecting hallways. Those present included representatives from virtually every race and religion, something that was touched on more than once as Khan's ability to unify people was lauded during the eulogy. The gathering was also diverse from a political perspective with federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and former Liberal leader and Ontario premier Bob Rae standing alongside former Toronto mayor, now Toronto Councillor Rob Ford. Oakville Liberal MPP Kevin Flynn and past Progressive Conservative rival Larry Scott were also present, united in grief. Khan died at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital early Sunday after being admitted with flu-like symptoms. a racist word across the front of his family's garage when he was eight. "He was deeply wounded, shocked and did not know what to do and he sought counsel from his parents... His mother sat him down and told him that the way you deal with that is by setting a better example. You don't turn to hate, you don't turn to violence. You set a better example," said Burton. A credit to his parents "Max lived those words thoroughly and he is a credit to his parents and his parents are a credit to our country for teaching that." One speaker said Khan had continued this philosophy through participating in interfaith programs where he denounced terrorism, stating his Islam does not allow for the type of violence taking place around the world. Khan also received praise for his political work as Flynn stated he was the type of person everyone wants in a politician. "He was the sort of person who brought humility to the job. It wasn't about Max. It was about you. It was about the community. It was about what he could do for you," said Flynn. "Max would never tell you how good he was. Max would always tell you how good you were. Max would always bring out the best in you. And, if there was ever a hard see Condolence on p.15