A boy who inspired an early Christmas in the town of St George, Ontario, in October has died.

Seven-year-old Evan Leversage was terminally ill with a brain tumour and the whole community rallied around to turn on the lights in the town to grant his wish of seeing one last Christmas.

"I was holding him as he took one last deep breath, and I knew at that very moment that this would be his last," said Evan's mother, Nicole Wellwood, in a statement posted to Facebook.

On October 24, the Christmas lights in St George were up, the main street was full of decorations and carolers went door to door.

The town, 35 kilometres west of Hamilton, turned out to support the boy, who had battled brain cancer for five years.

"What started out as a small request to have neighbours put their outdoor lights up a little early for Evan to enjoy blossomed into an international outpouring of love and support," the hospice statement said.

About 7,000 people — more than double the town's population — joined the festive celebrations.