Faron Hall facts for kids

Faron Hall (May 14, 1964 – August 17, 2014) was a man from Winnipeg, Canada. He became known as the "Homeless Hero" because he bravely saved several people from drowning in different situations.

About Faron Hall

Faron Hall was born on May 14, 1964. His birthplace was the Dakota Tipi First Nation [fy] reserve near Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. When he was about three years old, he was placed in foster care. He returned to the reserve around age eight.

Faron was known for being very kind and generous. He loved sports and swimming. He was friends with everyone he met. When he was younger, he once walked two miles to buy candy for a girl he liked. He truly enjoyed making others happy and taking care of them.

Early Life and Education

Faron grew up in a foster home in Waverley Heights. When he was eighteen, he joined a special program for young people in the city. This program helped them with high school and job skills.

He finished the program and worked as a teaching assistant at Hugh John Macdonald School. At the same time, he studied education at the University of Manitoba for two years. He also did other different jobs.

Faron met his first girlfriend, Cheryl James, through this program. She was impressed by how confident he was and how well he spoke. She said he wanted to help everyone in the class succeed, not just himself. He often visited his father on the Sioux Valley reserve near Brandon with James and her two nephews.

After working in construction in Saskatchewan, Faron returned to Winnipeg around 1999 or 2000. By 2001, he became homeless. He spent time in the Saint Boniface area and lived in tents along the Red River.

Heroic Rescues

Faron Hall became famous for his brave actions. He saved people from drowning in the Red River more than once.

First Rescue: Joseph Mousseau

On May 1, 2009, Faron and his friend Wayne Spence were sitting by the river. A 19-year-old named Joseph Mousseau accidentally fell into the river. He had been running across the Provencher Bridge and tried to jump over a railing. He thought he was jumping onto a pedestrian bridge below, but he fell into the water instead. As he fell, he hit his leg and back on a support beam.

Faron heard Joseph's cry for help. Without thinking, he quickly dropped his backpack and jumped into the cold river. The current was strong, but Faron swam at least fifteen meters to reach Joseph. Joseph was scared and couldn't swim because of his injuries. He struggled against Faron, but Faron managed to help him.

Recognition and Awards

After this first rescue in May 2009, Sam Katz, who was the Mayor of Winnipeg, honored Faron. He gave Faron the Mayor's Medal of Valour and season tickets to baseball games. Soon after, Faron moved into a government-owned apartment building.

In September 2009, Faron rescued another person. He saved a woman from drowning in the same river.

In December 2009, Faron received two more medals. These were from the Manitoba Life Saving Society. The International Supreme Master Television Network also gave him their Hero Award.

Later Life

In August 2014, Faron Hall's body was found in the Red River. He had been seen in trouble in the river earlier, but people were not able to save him.