4 Calgary young men get honoured for bravery at Chief's Awards Gala

Courtesy of Calgary Police

Real life Calgary hero’s were honoured at this year’s Chief’s Awards Gala.

Among the 25 citizens at the Gala who were awarded by Chief Constable Roger Chaffin were four young Calgary men.

On Thursday, April 2, 2015, Arnaud Nimenya, Carsyn Wright, James Hielema and Starlyn Rives Perez were skateboarding in the underground parkade of Chinook Mall when they saw a well dressed man carrying a drunk and confused young woman.

The four young men approached the pair and asked the man what was happening, to gauge if he girl was in safe hands. The man answered their questions and reassured them by showing the group that he had been trying to call the girls father for a ride home.

After feeling satisfied with the mans answers they let the pair leave watching them head towards a nearby stairwell. The group left with the intention on returning to check on the girl a few minutes later. When they returned, they saw the man sexually assaulting the young woman and acted quickly as the man fled the scene.

Arnaud, James, and Starlyn followed the man while Carsyn stayed back to ensure the girls safety. The three young men got into a physical confrontation with man but managed to hold him down until police arrived shortly after.

The man was arrested and charged with sexual assault.

Full list of awards:

Award of Exceptional Recognition – Arnaud Nimenya, Carsyn Wright, James Hielema & Starlyn Rivas-Hielema James Perez
Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving – Erin O’Connor
Award of Exceptional Recognition – Juan Dolph & Jasmine Simpson
Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving – John Eddy
Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour – Paris Hazelwanter
Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving – Matthew Eyre
Award of Exceptional Recognition for Life Saving – Paul Butler, Lee Copeland, Julia Siemens & Michel Parent
Life Saving Award – Constables Adam Tedesco, Bruce Nelson, Gene Newcombe, Nicole Buchanan, Doug Cooke, Travis Osmond and Sergeant Dave Hare