5-year-old killed in Dartmouth crash remembered as promising Beaver Scout

Max Thomas lived a short life, but he left a big impression.

The five-year-old died after a two-vehiclecollision in Dartmouth onFriday afternoon. Max was in the car with a female driver, who also suffered serious injuries.

The next day, some of the friends and mentors Max had metthrough Scouts Canada started building a memorial. The floating flagpole was built at the entrance to Portland Estates, the neighbourhood where Maxlived.

"He was very inquisitive, very smart, and was always up for whatever program or whatever challenge we would put together for [the Beaver Scouts]," said Wayne Hall, assistant group commissioner of the Portland Estates Scouts.

The floating flagpole, made of five logs lashed together, is a skill taught to older Scoutsso it's something Max wouldn't have learned to doyet, Hall said.

In the past few days, Hall said he's been thinking about the many things Max will never get to do, like the camping and hiking trips that were curtailed because ofthe pandemic.

"That's one of the biggest sorrows that we have, is the adventures that Max will never get to live," said Hall.

"[Hisdeath] drives home every day how precious life is," said Hall.

The flagpole memorial, with a Canadian flag at half-mast, is one of several tributes to Max. Posts on social media encouraged people to putcandles in their windows on Sundaynight, and Hall saidhundreds stopped by a park over the course of several hours on Monday to light a candle for Max.

A Gofundme campaign has also been launched for Max's parents, which has raisednearly $38,000 as of Tuesday evening. The Gofundme page describes Maxas having an infectious smile and laugh.

"His love of the outdoors, dinosaurs and playing with his best bud Mathew will be his lasting legacy," it reads.

Paul Johnson, a Beaver Scout leader who worked closely with Maxsince he joined the program last year, said the group's weekly virtual meeting would largely be dedicated to the boy's memorythis week.

To prepare for the tribute, Johnson said he'd been reviewing all the activities Maxhad participated in. He'd recently earned three badges: winter skills 1, trail skills 1 and emergency skills 1.

"It struck me that they're all level one badges. He wasjust getting started, in so many ways," Johnson said.

Hall said the floating flagpole will be temporary, but Scout leaders are hoping to find some other way to pay tribute toMax inthe long-term.

"Max is always going to be remembered and it's always going to be, you know, what good Max has done," Hall said.