Calgary 911 honoured nine young Calgarians on Friday, for their bravery and maturity in the face of emergency situations.
The nine Calgary youth were recognized at the 911 Heroes Awards Ceremony held at Telus Spark on Nov. 7. The awards are held annually to recognize city youth, who are nominated by 911 emergency communications officers who answered their calls for help, or by first responders who witnesses their actions.
“We are thrilled to celebrate these young heroes for their remarkable courage and calm, quick thinking to help bring emergency services to those in urgent need,” said Dan Heyde, Deputy Chief of Operations with Calgary 911, in a prepared news release.
“These outstanding individuals remind us that heroes come in all ages, and that knowing how and when to call 9-1-1 is a skill that can help save lives.”
Calgary’s youth 911 heroes
Dakota Semeniuk. Emergency Communications Officer: Jenny
On May 20, 2025, Dakota, a courageous 13-year-old, showed incredible bravery when he and his mom witnessed a serious vehicle collision on their way to the dentist. While his mom rushed to assist the injured, Dakota immediately dialed
9-1-1 and calmly relayed critical information to Emergency Communications Officer, Jenny. He gave an accurate location, detailed vehicle descriptions, and a clear account of the scene – helping police, fire and EMS arrive quickly and prepared to assist those in need.
Dakota’s quick thinking and ability to stay calm and communicate clearly during this difficult situation not only helped first responders at the scene, but also ensured the best possible of outcome for those involved.
Esther and Emma Zindi. Emergency Communications Officers: Nicole and Stephen
On March 21, 2025, Esther, 8-years-old, and Emma, 5-years-old, showed extraordinary bravery, teamwork and maturity when faced with a frightening situation in the middle of the night. After hearing a loud thud, the sisters went to investigate and discovered their mom had fallen and was experiencing a serious medical emergency. With no other adults in the home, they knew exactly what to do. The sisters immediately dialed 9-1-1 and were connected with Emergency Communications Officers Nicole and Stephen, who guided them through the situation.
They turned on the lights, unlocked the front door for first responders, and kept a close eye on their mom’s breathing – updating ECO Stephen with important details until help arrived. Working together, the sisters remained calm and followed every instruction provided by Stephen and EMS Dispatch. Their quick thinking, clear communication, and calm presence were vital in ensuring their mom received medical attention as quickly as possible.
Kalee McNair Morin. Emergency Communications Officer: Brenna
In October 2024, 15-year-old Kalee demonstrated incredible bravery, maturity, and compassion when she made the difficult decision to call 9-1-1 out of concern for a close friend experiencing a mental health crisis. Despite her friend’s plea not to involve anyone, Kalee knew that real help was needed – and that calling emergency services was the right thing to do. It takes tremendous courage to go against a friend’s wishes, especially at such a young age, but Kalee’s actions ensured her friend’s safety and opened the door for healing and support. Throughout the call, Kalee remained focused, respectful and deeply compassionate – qualities that left a lasting impression on Emergency Communications Officer Brenna.
Thanks to Kalee’s courage, her friend was able to get the immediate help they needed, as well as ongoing support and resources for their well-being. Her decision to speak up and act in a moment of crisis quite literally saved a life.
Preston Taylor. Emergency Communications Officer: Terri
On March 23, 2025, 12-year-old Preston displayed outstanding bravery and composure during a dangerous and unpredictable situation while out on a bike ride on a sunny spring day. Preston decided to explore a ridge on foot, when he suddenly found himself trapped precariously on a cliffside with the river below him and the ground crumbling beneath his feet. Although he did not know his exact location, Preston immediately called 911 and stayed on the line with Emergency Communications Officer Terri. Remaining remarkably calm, he carefully described how he had gotten from his house to the trail, with turn-by-turn instructions, enabling ECO Terri to narrow down his location for Calgary Fire crews.
Even while stranded on the cliff, Preston followed every instruction he was given and called out when directed so rescuers could hear him. Thanks to his clear communication and courage under pressure, Calgary Fire was able to locate and safely rescue him. Afterward, he even had the unique experience of riding home in a fire truck – a fitting ending to a remarkable display of bravery.
Omya and Shivansh Dey. Calgary Fire Captain Schwandt
On August 12, 2025, 8-year-old Omya and younger brother, Shivansh, showed incredible courage, maturity, and leadership during a frightening medical emergency at home. When their mother suddenly became ill, Omya and Shivansh were understandably scared. Being that they were home alone with their mom, they immediately called their dad for help. While their father called 9-1-1, Omya immediately stepped up to take charge of the situation. She kept both her mother and little brother calm, showing strength and compassion well beyond her years.
When Lieutenant Schwandt and his crew arrived on scene, they were met by Omya and Shivansh, who bravely and confidently guided them into the home and to their mother. They provided vital information about her medical history and assisted first responders with their questions. Their quick thinking and helpfulness were instrumental in ensuring a positive outcome for their mother.
Hunter Shoults. Emergency Communications Officer: Michelle
On March 19, 2025, 11-year-old Hunter, showed remarkable courage and maturity when he and his family were involved in a traffic collision. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Hunter immediately called 9-1-1 and calmly provided Emergency Communications Officer Michelle with the location of the incident. He was able to give accurate vehicle descriptions, including license plates, ensuring that police, fire and ambulance crews had the critical information they needed to respond quickly.
While managing the call, Hunter also worked to comfort and reassure his younger siblings, who were frightened by the crash. He provided important updates to police as the situation developed, including when one of the other drivers involved began acting aggressively toward others. Thanks to his clear communication and steady presence, first responders were able to arrive quickly, diffuse the situation, and keep everyone safe.
Saul Osinski. Emergency Communications Officer: Matt and Calgary Fire Captain Cote
On December 16, 2024, 12-year-old Saul demonstrated outstanding bravery, maturity and quick thinking during a life-threatening emergency near his junior high school. While on a school break, he noticed the smell and sight of smoke and went to investigate, discovering a nearby home had smoke coming from it with alarms sounding inside. Realizing the seriousness of the situation, Saul immediately called 9-1-1, providing Emergency Communications Officer Matt with the exact address of the location and excellent details about where he was seeing the smoke coming from.
While waiting for emergency crews, Saul kept bystanders at a safe distance, preventing anyone from approaching the dangerous scene, and continued to monitor the situation until first responders arrived. Calgary Fire crews, led by Captain Cote, quickly made entry to the home, where they discovered and rescued an individual who was unable to escape on their own, and who was just moments away from being unconscious from smoke inhalation. Thanks to Saul’s courage and quick actions, a life was saved.
