NEWS RELEASE
GUELPH POLICE SERVICE
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On a hot summer day in 2020, three teenage boys were playing at a neighbourhood school when a younger boy caught their attention. The teens – Christopher Bangart, Simon Slade and Bill Nguyen – thought the boy was in some sort of distress and approached him to check on his wellbeing. The boy, who appeared to be around 10 years old, seemed shy with the teens and would not provide much information on what led him to the school and his current condition, but did tell them he was very thirsty.
The teens walked the boy to a local variety store where they got him water and then flagged down an adult to ask for assistance. The Guelph Police were called to assist and the parents of the boy were located and he was safely returned home.
What started out as a normal hang-out for Christopher Bangart, Simon Slade and Bill Nguyen led to them getting involved in something bigger than them. The teens could have easily spotted the boy and chose not to get involved. In fact, many teenagers might not have even noticed that the boy needed help in the first place. Christopher, Simon and Bill made a decision to get involved and got the boy water and the assistance he needed. Had they not taken action, it is likely many more resources would have been needed to locate the boy and get him safely home.
They say it takes a community to raise a child. It also takes engaged citizens to assist the police in making its community strong and safe. Christopher, Simon and Bill stepped up to their moral and civic responsibilities by helping this young boy and were shining examples of just what a community can do when it comes together starting with a simple act of prudence and consideration.
For their actions, Christopher Bangart, Simon Slade and Bill Nguyen have been awarded the Junior Citizen Award by the Guelph Police Service in a private presentation. This award is generously supported by the Guelph Police Association and the Guelph Police Services Board who acknowledge the importance of our youth and their relationship with the police.
The Junior Citizen Award is a Guelph Police initiative and the recipients are nominated by a member of the police service. The award is given to a youth under 18 years of age who is a citizen of Guelph and who has been involved in a police-related incident. The Junior Citizen Award is awarded annually to provide recognition to young citizens of Guelph who contribute to the community by assisting the Guelph Police Service in keeping our city a safe place to live, work and play. This is the fifteenth annual presentation of the award.
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