Bus driver a hero - To be honoured by police
Published: December 4, 2006
A TTC bus driver whose quick thinking helped in the rescue of 22 seniors from their smoke-filled home will be honoured by police for his heroism. [Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life]
Kester Harris received the invitation to police headquarters from Chief Bill Blair and Police Services Board chairman Alok Mukherjee for a ceremony Dec. 6 where he will be presented with his commendation.
“I’m thrilled,” Harris said. “Everybody has been very good to me over this.”
He said he never considered himself a hero over the actions he took at 2 a.m. on Feb. 4 when he stopped his empty bus at the Alexis Lodge Retirement Residence on Ellesmere Rd. near Brimley Rd.
But others did as the congratulatory letters came in.
VALOUR AND COMPASSION’
“Without question you have earned the right to be called a hero,” wrote Premier Dalton McGuinty commending his “valour and compassion.”
When he got to the lodge that cold winter evening he saw Toronto firefighters hard at work on the fire that started in a basement clothes dryer.
He got permission from his supervisors to use his empty bus to transport the seniors from the lodge, which specializes in caring for people with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
“It was good to know I had helped those people,” Harris said yesterday. “It’s just about the best thing you can do for someone to help them out when they’re in a time of need.”
If you enjoyed this good news Subscribe to Good News Blog
Share this
To share this simply copy and paste one of the below URL's: