Gord Portman, the Penticton man who assisted in saving two lives in a house fire earlier this year, has been honoured with a bravery award by the for his actions during the fire.

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After Portman intervened in the fire, he was inspired to get clean and sober.

sa国际传媒淚 saw that picture of me in the paper and I just looked at myself like sa国际传媒榦h boy I need help,sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒� Portman told the Western News after receiving his award. sa国际传媒淚 needed to get clean and sober after that.sa国际传媒�

The Royal Canadian Humane Associationsa国际传媒檚 mission is to sa国际传媒渞ecognize deeds of heroism, by Canadians in civilian life, who, through their alertness, skill and concern, save or attempt to save a life, especially where those actions lie outside the ordinary duties of the person involved.sa国际传媒�

Portman would have received the award during a ceremony but due to the pandemic he received his plaque and medal in the mail Friday, Dec. 11.

After saving Linda Paksec and her daughter in the March house fire on Duncan Avenue, Portman checked himself into Discovery House Mensa国际传媒檚 Treatment Centre to seek help for his substance abuse. Now, over six months later, hesa国际传媒檚 clean and sober and has moved into a new home where he lives with his dog, Zippy. Hesa国际传媒檒l be seven months clean and sober Dec. 22.

sa国际传媒淚 need to thank the Discovery House for saving my life,sa国际传媒� he said. sa国际传媒淚 helped rescue Linda and her daughter but it was me that needed rescuing too.sa国际传媒�

Portman believes he would still be using drugs if it wasnsa国际传媒檛 for the fateful house fire. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檇 still be out there, lost in my addiction, missing in action.sa国际传媒�

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Looking ahead, Portman hopes his story can inspire others struggling with addiction to seek help. Eventually, he wants to work in addictions counselling himself.

sa国际传媒淚 have a habit of being in the wrong place at the right time,sa国际传媒� Portman said, explaining that hesa国际传媒檚 intervened in multiple other life-or-death situations. sa国际传媒淕odsa国际传媒檚 got a purpose for me.sa国际传媒�

Now that Portman is sober and living on his own, he plans to begin taking courses at Okanagan College and one day hopes to work at Discovery House himself.

sa国际传媒淚 just love helping people, thatsa国际传媒檚 who I am,sa国际传媒� he said.

sa国际传媒淚 want to work in the field of addiction one day, tell my story and help people with addiction and help other addicts.sa国际传媒�

A born and raised Pentictonite, Portman said hesa国际传媒檚 regained many tarnished relationships with friends and family since getting sober after the fire. sa国际传媒淚 missed a lot of years but Isa国际传媒檓 back now and I want to help everybody.

sa国际传媒淚f anyone needs help they can message me on facebook and I can direct them to some resources and tell them how to make things easier.sa国际传媒�

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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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