A former Canadian soldier who was killed while fighting against I-SIL in Syria was honoured Friday by thousands of people who lined parts of highway 401 overpasses as his casket was taken in a procession to his hometown in southwestern Ontario.

John Gallagher of Wheatly, Ontario was killed on November 5th, either at close range or by a suicide bomber while fighting alongside Kurdish forces against Islamic State fighters.

Many members of Canada`s Kurdish community showed up to pay their respects, calling Gallagher a hero, and saying it was an honour to be there and share with his family.

Gallagher had served with the Canadian Forces in Bosnia, and left the military in 2005.

He chose to join the battle in Syria because he said the Kurdish people are under threat from a genocidal foe.