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7 | The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,F ebruary 13,2020 theifp.ca For many years, the In- dependent and Free Press invited some elected repre- sentatives to contribute a monthly column, which was published in the edito- rial pages. I appreciated and val- ued this opportunity to in- form you of what was hap- pening at Queen's Park during the years the IFP published my column. After a period of hiatus, the IFP has decided to rein- state my column, and I'm very grateful. I want to be- gin this one (my first one in quite a while), by publicly thanking our local newspa- pers for the vital role they play in our communities. It's really as simple as this: if you want to know what's going on in your town, you likely won't find it on one of the national news platforms, as impor- tant as they are. But you will find it in your local paper, whether in traditional print or on- line. Strong communities with spirit and vitality have some common char- acteristics. One of them is the common point of refer- ence a first-rate communi- ty newspaper provides to residents, bringing people together. We need trained, profes- sional journalists who sep- arate fact from fiction, re- ality from myth and truth from falsehood. Local journalism mat- ters, today more than ever in our saturated and some- times misleading social media environment. Let's show our support for our communities by supporting our local news- papers. Lisa and I enjoyed host- ing our annual free family skates in Georgetown and Acton last month. We want to thank everyone who braved the January weath- er to join us, and enjoy one of our quintessential Cana- dian winter activities. Thanks also to the staff of the Mold-Masters Sport- sPlex and the Acton Arena and Community Centre for their warm welcome and the great job they always do. The Ontario Legislature is scheduled to resume sit- ting at Queen's Park on Feb. 18. With the many op- portunities and challenges facing the province, the spring sitting promises to be eventful and compel- ling. My staff and I continue to meet with our Halton Hills constituents on a reg- ular basis at the George- town and Acton libraries. If you have an issue or concern, please don't hesi- tate to contact our office. As always, we are here to help anyway we can. Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott can be reached at 1-800-265-2366 or ted.arnottco@pc.ola.org OPINION LOCAL NEWSPAPERS VITAL TO OUR COMMUNITIES HAPPY TO BE BACK AS A MONTHLY CONTRIBUTOR, WRITES TED ARNOTT TED ARNOTT Column saving actions of two Halton Hills firefighters who were in the right place at the right time. It was a beautiful spring day (May 3, 2019), and Stras- bourg had just finished dropping off a load of sod at a landscaping job on Hew- son Crescent. While he would usually turn left onto Ewing Street after leaving the job site and head back out to Highway 7, on that day, he decided to turn right and weave his way through the scenic streets of old Georgetown. Listening to music, en- joying the sunshine, the 57- year-old was touring down John Street toward the in- tersection with Mountain- view Road North. "I can recall looking around, then the lights went out, just like that," he said. "I had no warning, and no pain whatsoever." With Strasbourg slumped behind the wheel, his truck rolled through the stop sign at the intersection and hit a post on the corner, bringing it to a halt. The local man's medical distress caught the eye of Joey McClement and Mark Bailey, two Halton Hills firefighters who just hap- pened to be at the intersec- tion in their own vehicles. From a distance, they thought Strasbourg was having a seizure or a stroke. "His head was back, and he was discoloured. I got out of my vehicle and went over immediately," said Bailey, who quickly put Stras- bourg's truck in park, re- moved the keys and began assessing him. "I could see that he was going VSA (vital signs absent) and had ago- nal breathing." Bailey quickly got Stras- bourg out of his vehicle and down on the pavement, then heard a familiar voice be- hind him. It was McCle- ment, who came prepared with a mask, gloves and first aid kit from his vehicle. With time of the essence, Bailey began chest com- pressions. McClement di- aled 911, then gave his phone to a bystander and directed them on what to tell the op- erator so that he could com- mence mouth-to-mouth with his pocket mask. Partway through the in- tensive CPR process, the two men were joined by an- other off-duty first respond- er -- a female Toronto po- lice officer. Bailey went in the ambu- lance to continue working on Strasbourg all the way to the Georgetown Hospital. While one may think the Strasbourg had no idea what was happening during those intense moments, the lucky man says he actually had an out-of-body experi- ence and was watching the whole thing unfold like a movie. "So I was gone, and I was looking down at them," he recalled. "As I went higher I thought, if I fall, I'm going to break my leg. "I could see a guy run- ning over and I thought ge- ez, I've got a truck like that. I wonder what's going on here?" he continued. "I saw that they didn't give up on me." Strasbourg was first treated at the Georgetown Hospital before being trans- ferred to Oakville, and then Mississauga, where he stayed for about a week and underwent quadruple by- pass surgery -- quite a ride for a man who'd never been in the hospital before. "All of the hospital staff said the firefighters did an amazing job," he said. "At Trillium (in Mississauga), they said if it wasn't for them, they'd have nothing to work on, which is incred- ible." Strasbourg also couldn't say enough good things about all of the doctors, nurses and volunteers he encountered on his harrow- ing hospital journey. Today, he reports that he's feeling better than ever, and has a new appreciation for waking up in the morn- ing. He still marvels at how the stars aligned to bring him, Bailey and McClement together at that north Georgetown intersection at just the right moment. "If they hadn't stopped, or if I'd have turned left, I wouldn't be here," he said. "I'm forever grateful be- cause I'm not ready to go. I have things to do. I have two daughters who are just get- ting their own lives started, and now I have the pleasure of being a part of that, thanks to them. I don't think they realize just how much of an impact they've had." While the two local fire- fighters may have been off duty, they say the instinct to do something is always there. "Your training just im- mediately kicks in," said McClement. "It's a first-re- sponse mentality. The na- ture of your job is that you want to help." NEWS Continued from page 1 FIREFIGHTERS SPRING INTO ACTION TO SAVE MAN Halton Hills firefighters Mark Bailey and Joey McClement sprung into action after seeing Denis Strasbourg roll through the intersection at John Street and Mountainview Road North in medical distress. Melanie Hennessey/Torstar