TORONTO -- A funeral will be held for actor Corey Haim at a Thornhill chapel Tuesday — but it won’t cost taxpayers a dime.
The City of Toronto confirmed it won’t be footing the bill for actor Corey Haim’s funeral.
The confirmation came a day after a flurry of media reports that the Tuesday service for the Toronto-born actor who died last Wednesday in Burbank, Calif., would be paid for by the city.
“The City of Toronto has never received an application for assistance with the funeral costs for Mr. Haim,” a city statement said Monday.
“While the city would normally not confirm or deny the existence of an application for assistance with funeral benefits — as this is a matter covered by privacy regulations — given the number of reports, the city has chosen to confirm it.”
According to Access Hollywood, Judy Haim — Corey’s mom — told the U.S. show on Saturday that the City of Toronto would foot the bill.
“While the City of Toronto is not involved in Mr. Haim’s funeral, the City of Toronto, like most municipalities, assists deceased Toronto residents that do not have adequate resources within their estate to pay for a basic funeral and burial,” the statement read.
The funeral will be held at Steeles Memorial Chapel, an employee at the Thornhill chapel confirmed Monday.
“We’re here to help the family and do whatever we can for them,” administrator Marla Stewart said of Haim’s funeral expenses. “That’s what we do. We’re known for that.”
Meanwhile, former child star Corey Feldman said he won’t attend his friend’s funeral.
Feldman, 38, said in a statement: “I would love nothing more than to be by his mother’s side at Corey’s funeral. However, due to their strong religious beliefs and need for privacy, the family has decided to make Corey’s funeral a small private affair.”
Instead, he’ll help plan a public memorial in Los Angeles.
“Understanding the recent media attention, I have decided not to attend,” Feldman said. “As a sign of respect, I am asking the media to honour Corey Haim by making the same choice.”
— With files from The Canadian Press
tamara.cherry@sunmedia.ca
