Hail The Conquering Hero

This individual is to be commended for carrying out his obligation as a citizen and I think he would have taken the same action if the attack was against the clubhouse of a skinhead group.

TTC Driver Hailed As Hero After Helping Police Halt Hate Crime In Progress

Thursday October 25, 2007

CityNews.ca Staff

It's often the little things that can make the difference in a community. And on Thursday, TTC driver Geovanny Hidalgo was honoured after a simple act of diligence made a big impact towards halting a serious crime.

Hidalgo was driving his bus when he spotted a group of individuals breaking windows at the Jewish Community Centre on Bathurst St. south of St. Clair. He immediately pulled out his cell phone and dialed 911. An act that police say stopped a hate crime in progress.

The Canadian Jewish Congress presented him with the Louis Lenkinski Memorial Award to thank him for his quick thinking. The award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellence and dedication in the area of human rights, community service and social justice.

"The word that I've been using is overwhelmed," Hidalgo said of receiving the honour. "Pitching the first pitch at the Jays game, I thought that was going to be tough. This is more humbling."

Thanks to his quick call, police apprehended three men, one of whom was wearing white supremacist paraphernalia while allegedly caught breaking synagogue windows.

Louis Lenkinski's son, Lionel, took part in the presentation ceremony. His father was a respected activist and community leader.

"The fact that Mr. Hidalgo didn't drive by and...cared enough to call police, to stop an act that was an act of hatred not just against the Jewish community but against everybody in Toronto, I can't describe it. It took something that really is special," he said.