As part of “Police Week” here in the region — Owen Sound Police Services handed out some hardware to a pair of very deserving people.
The 2011 Chief Citation’s Awards were handed out Thursday to everyday heroes Chuck Dembroski and Nicole Graham.
Both Owen Sound citizen’s were recognized for life-saving first aid intervention.
On November 8th 2010, Nicole Graham was working at Georgian College when mature student Gail Nadjiwon collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.
Fortunately, Georgian College is equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator which Graham had been trained to use — and Gail’s life was saved.
Gail Nadjiwon says she owes her life to her hero Nicole, and it brightens her day when she sees her in the halls of the college.
The other recipient of the award is Chuck Dembroski, who was working at DC Taylor Jewellers on March 17, 2011 — when he helped save a life.
Dembroski says he went to check out a loud commotion in the back alley behind the store, and saw an elderly woman lying on the ground in obvious distress.
The woman was Verna Simpson, and she was complaining about not not being able to breathe.
Chuck Dembroski used his CPR training to help keep her breathing until paramedics arrived.
Dembroski gets emotional when he reflects back on that day, and says he doesn’t feel like a hero — just an everyday guy who used his training to help out.
But to Verna Simpson’s family, Dembroski IS a hero — Verna Simpson’s daughter Debbie Aiken says her mother is on the road to recovery thanks to Chuck.
