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Calgarians awarded for heroism at Chief’s Awards Gala

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A group of heroic Calgarians were honoured at the Chief’s Awards Gala Thursday night.

Among those recognized were Daxton Novak and Derek Widerman, who helped a woman who tried to kill herself during a drug-induced psychosis.

Novak says they jumped to action after noticing the woman was hanging on for her life from the balcony above their sixth floor apartment.

“I’d like to think that we kind of did whatever two people thrusted into a situation like that would have done. I mean obviously the recognition feels quite special, but yeah I’d like to think that we just tried to do the right thing and you know hopefully other people if they were in our apartment would do the same thing too,” he said.

Ten-year-old Sonia Yousaf was also given an award for bravery.

Yousaf fled her home to call police in November 2016, telling them her mother was being assaulted.

“(It’s) kind of like an instinct, like you have to call them if something is urgent, right?” she told 660 NEWS.

The quick call for help not only helped her mother survive the horrible ordeal but helped police arrest her attacker.

Jessica Johnson, stopped along the Centre Street Bridge to talk to a man who was contemplating suicide.

“I looked into his eyes and said hello and said my name, and got his name and he allowed me to take his hand, and he agreed to climb back over, and then we just kind of sat there and waited and chatted until some additional help arrived,” she said.

Police Chief Roger Chaffin says while people are cautioned not to put themselves at risk, many individuals simply react to situations they are facing, which often brings out the best not only in them but in the community as well.

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