Manitoba heroes honoured at gala celebration in Winnipeg
CBC News | Posted: September 18, 2016 3:34 AM | Last Updated: September 18, 2016
Our Manitoba Heroes recognizes 5 Manitobans on Saturday
Five Manitobans were honoured Saturday at the fourth annual Our Manitoba Heroes gala dinner. The award recognizes compassionate acts in the province.
"Honestly I'm still kind of in shock by it," said one of this year's heroes, Samantha Lussier.
Lussier helped raise about $30,000 dollars for 11-year-old Allexis Siebrecht and her family to stay in Toronto while Siebrecht underwent a life-saving liver transplant last year.
Lussier said she never expected anything back in return for her good deeds.
"I did it because I knew I could help her," she said.
Comedian and mental health advocate, Big Daddy Tazz, was equally surprised he was honoured at the event, saying when he first got the invitation, he thought he was being asked to MC the gala.
"I'm so blown away and overly flattered that they are honouring me with this award," he said.
Our Manitoba Heroes for 2016:
- Jeff Fisher began Project-ECHO which helps provide food and clothing to thousands of Winnipeggers in need.
- Danny Kleinsasser is a supporter of a number of Winnipeg charities including Winnipeg Harvest, Youth for Christ, Teen Challenge, Lighthouse Mission, Ride for Dad, and many others.
- Samantha Lussier, who after hearing 11-year-old Allexis Siebrecht was in desperate need of a liver, had herself tested. Lussier was not a match but continued to support Siebrecht through her recovery, fundraising thousands for her family.
- Ian Rabb is a leader in establishing recovery centres for people battling addiction. The homes he's helped establish assist 115 people a year to rebuild their lives.
- Big Daddy Tazz, also known as the Bi-Polar Buddha, travels across North America working to eliminate stigma around mental health issues and helps kids deal with bullying.