City, province honour homeless hero Hall

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This article was published 07/05/2009 (6021 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FARON Hall went from living year-round under a bridge to being a dignitary honoured in the gallery of the legislature on Wednesday.

But now he can’t wait to get back under the bridge.

"I just live a simple life and get by day by day. Hopefully, this will die down and I can get back to what I was doing before," said the homeless man who is being celebrated as a hero since he jumped in the Red River on Sunday to save a teenager.

"But I gave that little guy back his life and I have to get my life back, too."

Hall, 44, admits he lives rough, usually sleeping outdoors on cardboard and regularly looking for a drink.

On Wednesday, he wiped away tears as provincial politicians of all stripes stood and applauded his selfless actions in risking his life by swimming into a strong current to save a teenager who accidently fell from the Provencher Bridge on Sunday.

"I’m just grateful," an emotional Hall said as he emerged from the legislature chamber.

Just minutes before, Hall and two guests — Marion Willis, who witnessed the rescue, and her husband, former Fox Lake First Nation Chief Robert Wavey, sat in the Speaker’s gallery and listened to the laudatory statements praising his heroism.

Eric Robinson, the minister of culture, heritage, tourism and sport, said Hall’s heroism "has challenged perceptions and forced us all to confront our prejudices; compelled us to look past the tired stereotypes and easy associations to consider the content of his character and the true value and worth of all Manitobans.

"We now recognize Mr. Hall’s face, a face that has come to symbolize courage, compassion and humility. But, sadly, Mr. Hall is also the face of homelessness, poverty and addiction. A face that many of us don’t want to face ourselves because there are no quick fixes or easy answers to the problems it represents."

Robinson also said he believes it was no accident that placed Hall on a park bench sitting beside the river when the teen fell in.

"He was there to save a life and in doing so has touched so many others," the minister said.

"One of our most disadvantaged citizens has shown us by example how to treat one another and we must follow his lead."

As for the teenage boy himself, a spokeswoman for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority confirmed that he was treated and released from hospital without being admitted as a patient.

Politicians from the other provincial parties also offered their praise to Hall.

"Anybody, no matter what their situation, has talent – Faron Hall has demonstrated he has extraordinary talent," Liberal leader Jon Gerrard said.

"It shows us that when we next meet someone on the street in difficult circumstances, they deserve respect."

Tory MLA Gerald Hawranik said Hall’s act was courageous and he also shows courage speaking out for other people who are homeless.

"He simply wants better treatment for the homeless people in the province – we couldn’t agree more," Hawranik said.

"Faron has asked all of us not to judge people who lack a home."

Earlier, at a ceremony held just metres away from where Hall dived in to save the teenager, Mayor Sam Katz honoured the man by presenting him with the mayor’s Medal of Valour. It’s only the third medal given after the mayor gave the first two medals to the two men who rescued Lisa Klassen after her SUV fell to the Red River from a bridge.

The front of the silver medal shows the city’s crest ringed with the words Mayor’s Award of Valour. The back of the medal has the recipient’s name engraved on it.

"When a citizen goes to the length you did and risks their life to save another human being they deserve the mayor’s Medal of Valour," Katz said.

"Whatever it is you decide to do with the rest of your life, I want you to know it is important for you to know there are a lot of people who will support you. It is your decision and we are there for you if and when you need us."

Afterwards, Katz confirmed he was talking about the possibility of Hall getting a job with the city.

"It’s his decision," Katz said.

"We’ll be there for him."

Hall said "I’ll think about it.

"That’s very appreciative."

Hall said one unexpected outcome to his heroism is he is being able to reconnect with family he hasn’t seen in years since he began living on the street.

Hall is expected to be on his way to his home reserve – Dakota Tipi First Nation near Portage la Prairie – later Wednesday to see his 86-year-old father for the first time in eight years. He said his 27-year-old stepdaughter called him Tuesday. And he’s hoping to see his three children, aged 22, 15 and nine.

"We’re so proud of him," Hall’s cousin, Diane Shota, said after hugging the man after the medal presentation.

"It has been years since I saw him. He was in foster care. It was the effect of residential schools… I hope things really work out for him.

"He just needs someone who cares."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

 * * *

In the legislature yesterday, Eric Robinson, Culture, Heritage and Tourism minister, made the following speech about Faron Hall, who was in the public gallery:

Mr. Speaker, it is with deepest respect and gratitude that I welcome to the house a man who has captured the imagination and admiration of all Manitobans in recent days by risking his own life to save another: Mr. Faron Hall. I also wish to acknowledge Mr. Wayne Spence, who was with Mr. Hall at the time of his brave act.

I invited Mr. Hall to the legislature today because I believe Manitobans owe him a debt of gratitude, not only for saving a young man’s life, but for reminding us all of the spirit that has shaped this great province, a spirit that puts humanity first and makes Manitoba such a fine place to live.

In carrying out his heroic rescue without hesitation, Mr. Hall has challenged perceptions and forced us all to confront our prejudices; compelled us to look past the tired stereotypes and easy associations to consider the content of his character and the true value and worth of all Manitobans.

Thanks to his selfless act of heroism we now recognize Mr. Hall’s face, a face that has come to symbolize courage, compassion and humility. But sadly, Mr. Hall is also the face of homelessness, poverty, and addiction. A face that many of us don’t want to face ourselves because there are no quick fixes or easy answers to the problems it represents.

But as Mr. Hall so clearly demonstrates, there’s always a story behind the face, and it’s a story worth hearing. A story not only of pain, fear and despair, but also one of love, resilience and hope. A story that serves as the path to understanding. But it shouldn’t take an extraordinary act of bravery for us all to seek that path.

The Dakota people have traditionally looked to Wakan Tanka, or the ‘Great Spirit’, for guidance. Like the Creator in many of the world’s religions, Wakan Tanka relies on people like Faron Hall to carry out important work here on Mother Earth. I firmly believe it was no accident that Mr. Hall found himself at the right place at the right time to do what he did. He was there to save a life, and in doing so has touched so many others.

I also believe we are all capable of embodying the Great Spirit in our everyday lives. It doesn’t have to be through a courageous rescue on the Red River. It can be as simple as treating a fellow human being with dignity and respect when you pass them on the street.

The reason we as Manitobans thrive here at Manito Ahbee, where the Spirit lives, is because we take care of each other. But we must not forget that those who are struggling deserve our respect and understanding. One of our most disadvantaged citizens has shown us by example how to treat one another and we must follow his lead.

So to you Mr. Hall, on behalf of the Province of Manitoba, for saving the life of a young man and reminding us the Great Spirit lives in all of us; for being the face of the courage, humility and compassion that make this province great;

Wopida, Meegwetch, Mahseecho, Ekosani, Thank you.