Heroism in Canada

The Right Man in the Right Place at the Right Time

Kieley suffered serious injuries and was in a coma for the first few days following the incident. She told VOCM News that she woke up feeling thankful to be alive.

“The first thing I felt was incredible gratitude and to know that only good things were to come,” says Kieley, who recalls waking up surrounded by family and friends who had been anxiously waiting by her side for days. She says there has been an outpouring of support.In a remarkable display of courage and quick thinking,

Newfoundland Canada is a beautiful place. It’s also home to good people

Namely Chris Evans, the owner of a St. John's barbershop, who became an unexpected hero last summer. This story started for him as a routine shopping trip ahead of the Victoria Day weekend and turned into a life-altering moment for Evans.

As he browsed through the aisles of Shoppers Drug Mart on LeMarchant Road, fate took a sudden turn when a car crashed through the front window. It was at that moment, that the deputy mayor of nearby Mount Pearl, Nicole Kieley, was leaving a drugstore and when when a vehicle slammed through the glass doors, striking and pinning her underneath.

Without hesitation, Evans, sprang into action. I imagine the scene as pure chaos: the sound of shattering glass echoing around him. Kieley's pleas, the engine still running, the wheels still spinning.

But amidst all this, and traversing the fallen glass Evans acted quickly and rationally. How? How was he in such a clear state of mind? A couple of things.

First, Evans was in the Canadian army reserve, and thus had first aid training and some experience in high-energy situations. He guided Kieley through the ordeal, offering reassurance and preventing panic.

Nicole Kieley

Secondly? Well, remarkably, this incident wasn't Evans's first encounter with a vehicle crashing through a storefront window!

I’m serious.

As the co-owner of Fogtown Barber in downtown St. John's, his barbershop experienced two such incidents in six months in 2022. Despite the bizarre coincidence, Evans refused to consider himself cursed.

Reflecting on the silver lining of the Fogtown crashes, Evans saw them as valuable lessons. They compelled him to mentally rehearse scenarios and contemplate how to respond. This mental preparation proved invaluable during the Shoppers crash, allowing Evans to remain composed and unfazed.

In the face of adversity, Chris Evans emerged as a symbol of resilience and compassion, turning a harrowing incident into an opportunity to make a difference. His story serves as a reminder that heroes can emerge from the most unexpected places, ready to lend a helping hand and bring hope in times of need.

And, of course, such people and such actions are good things.