NIPAWIN — It started with a fire in Nipawin and ended with three people being presented with an award in Regina.
On May 29, Abegail Epino and Megan Stonehouse were driving through Nipawin, passing 10th Avenue West when they saw a fire at a town building, and it was reaching a group home for people with intellectual disabilities run by Handi-Works.
“We provide vocational and residential services for adults with intellectual disabilities and we operate group homes and day programs,” said Hugh Macdonald, managing director with Handi-Works. “We’ve got independent living programs where we got staff working with individuals in their own units, both in Nipawin and Tisdale.”
Epino and Stonehouse then called 9-1-1.
“We had 24-hour staff but they were in the other end of the home, the side of the home next to the fire was where all of the bedrooms were,” Macdonald said.
There were four residences upstairs with two suites in the basement.
The women recognized it was a group home and there were people with disabilities inside. The two women approached the house and were met by a neighbor of the group home, Cory Folster.
“These people knocked on the door, and knocked on the door until our staff went and opened the door for them and then they helped the staff wake up the residents and get them outside,” Macdonald said.
After the situation Hugh contacted the local MLA to see if there was an award the three of them could get for their bravery.
“I thought it was special what they did to help and it was crucial timing because two of the windows of the group home side were blown out. Had they not called it in when they called it in it could have been much worse for both the people and the building.”
On Oct. 15 the three of them were presented with Honorary Testimonial Certificates at Government House in Regina, nominated by Handi-Works.
“The first thing I thought of was how impressed I was that young people would go out of their way to help like that,” Hugh said. “I think they should be recognized for what they did.”
