Gord Portman, the Penticton man who assisted in saving two lives in a house fire earlier this year, has been honoured with a bravery award by the for his actions during the fire.
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After Portman intervened in the fire, he was inspired to get clean and sober.
鈥淚 saw that picture of me in the paper and I just looked at myself like 鈥榦h boy I need help,鈥欌�� Portman told the Western News after receiving his award. 鈥淚 needed to get clean and sober after that.鈥�
The Royal Canadian Humane Association鈥檚 mission is to 鈥渞ecognize deeds of heroism, by Canadians in civilian life, who, through their alertness, skill and concern, save or attempt to save a life, especially where those actions lie outside the ordinary duties of the person involved.鈥�
Portman would have received the award during a ceremony but due to the pandemic he received his plaque and medal in the mail Friday, Dec. 11.
After saving Linda Paksec and her daughter in the March house fire on Duncan Avenue, Portman checked himself into Discovery House Men鈥檚 Treatment Centre to seek help for his substance abuse. Now, over six months later, he鈥檚 clean and sober and has moved into a new home where he lives with his dog, Zippy. He鈥檒l be seven months clean and sober Dec. 22.
鈥淚 need to thank the Discovery House for saving my life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 helped rescue Linda and her daughter but it was me that needed rescuing too.鈥�
Portman believes he would still be using drugs if it wasn鈥檛 for the fateful house fire. 鈥淚鈥檇 still be out there, lost in my addiction, missing in action.鈥�
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Looking ahead, Portman hopes his story can inspire others struggling with addiction to seek help. Eventually, he wants to work in addictions counselling himself.
鈥淚 have a habit of being in the wrong place at the right time,鈥� Portman said, explaining that he鈥檚 intervened in multiple other life-or-death situations. 鈥淕od鈥檚 got a purpose for me.鈥�
Now that Portman is sober and living on his own, he plans to begin taking courses at Okanagan College and one day hopes to work at Discovery House himself.
鈥淚 just love helping people, that鈥檚 who I am,鈥� he said.
鈥淚 want to work in the field of addiction one day, tell my story and help people with addiction and help other addicts.鈥�
A born and raised Pentictonite, Portman said he鈥檚 regained many tarnished relationships with friends and family since getting sober after the fire. 鈥淚 missed a lot of years but I鈥檓 back now and I want to help everybody.
鈥淚f anyone needs help they can message me on facebook and I can direct them to some resources and tell them how to make things easier.鈥�
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jesse.day@pentictonwesternnews.com
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