Unsung hero finds new home
Published: September 14, 2006
Heroics couldn’t save Edmund Henderson from homelessness, but the caring concern of others did.
The 58-year-old Portage la Prairie resident bravely alerted sleeping guests to danger at Portage Hotel when fire broke out in the building on the morning of Aug. 31.
However, warning others and seeing them safely out of the burning building left him little time to save his own possessions.
“All the possessions in the world aren’t worth your life,” he said yesterday, while recalling the day of the fire during an interview at his new home in the southeast corner of the city.
“All I got out was the clothes on my back,” said the janitor, who had called Portage Hotel his home for the last eight years.
Henderson, who works nights as a cleaner at the local Sobeys, said he returned to the site of the historic landmark as crews were clearing away the rubble in hopes of salvaging some of his belongings, but had no success.
“I didn’t really have a lot of stuff …, but it still came out to around $5,000,” he said, noting his possessions were not insured.
The Good Samaritan said after the fire, several Sobeys employees gave him clothes to wear. His friends has also donated items, with one person loaning him a television and kitchen table.
Henderson said most of his family lives in Alberta, adding he has contacted one of his brother to find out if he can provide some assistance, but hasn’t heard a reply yet.
“I just thank the people that were generous enough to help me out, because without them I would still have nothing … and I could have been homeless and out on the street,” Henderson said yesterday.
Bill Calder, owner of Clayton Agencies in Portage, was at the scene of the blaze when he became aware of what Henderson had lost.
“I was standing beside him watching the fire and he got talking and telling me about his situation …. He didn’t know where he was going to go, or where he was going to stay that night,” said Calder.
Calder said he had rented to Henderson previously and knew he was a good tenant. He then spoke to the owner of a building with vacancies who was also at the scene of the fire and by 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 31, Henderson was looking at what is now his apartment.
The building’s owner also dropped the rent by $25 to $325 a month so Henderson could continue to pay the same rate he had been paying at the hotel.
Henderson added his new landlord, who wishes to remain anonymous, brought him food and furniture as well. A neighbour has provided a bed.
“I think things will turn out all right,” said Henderson.
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