Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honour and recognize an extraordinary act of courage and compassion by a private citizen in the face of grave danger on Highway 401 near Trenton in my riding of the Bay of Quinte, a gentleman I welcomed here in Ottawa today, Isik.
During a recent snowstorm, in a multivehicle crash on one of Canada's busiest highways, this individual did not hesitate to put others before himself. Amidst whiteout conditions, he stopped his own car and raced from vehicle to vehicle, checking on motorists, urging them to remain safe and calm. Witnesses say he returned repeatedly to harm's way to carry out trapped and injured passengers, including pulling a woman from a burning vehicle and helping another man to safety, acts that emergency officials say undoubtedly saved lives on that day. Isik himself has humbly downplayed his actions, saying he does not consider himself a hero, but a hero he is indeed.
I invite all members to join me in thanking Isik for his courage and his bravery on that day.