Sally Alaina (Feb16 @ 1:26pm) posted:
A Beacon of Hope: The Kindness That Unites Us.About an hour ago, while seeking shelter from the storm at Novotel Montreal Airport/Aeroport hotel in Montreal, as our flight to Cancun has so far been delayed by 24 hours with Sunwing Vacations, our group of family and friends observed a heartwarming act of kindness that uplifted our spirits and undoubtedly touched those around us.
It was a blustery winter afternoon in Montreal, the kind that blankets the city in a layer of snow and turns every street into a dangerous alley of blowing snow. The West London Hawks of the
West London Minor Hockey Association, a spirited hockey team of 16-year-olds from London, Ontario, were en route home from a tournament. Their bus, a bastion of warmth and camaraderie, pulled up outside the Novotel hotel, seeking refuge from the treacherous road conditions. However, the scene that greeted them was far from the calm they expected.
As the team bus drove up, they were met by a chaotic scene. The blizzard had worsened unexpectedly, and several vehicles were stuck in the snow, their drivers struggling to free themselves from the icy grip. Without hesitation, the boys sprang into action.
The team, their youthful energy and teamwork honed from countless hours on the ice, now directed at digging and pushing cars free. Laughter and shouts of encouragement filled the frigid air as they worked together, helping strangers in need. One by one, the vehicles were freed, their drivers grateful and relieved, waving thanks as they drove off.
Once the immediate crisis was over, the boys gathered in the lobby entrance of the hotel, their faces flushed with the cold and satisfaction of a job well done. It was then that they noticed one of the drivers, standing apart, their expression one of distress. They were frantically searching the snow where their car had been stuck, for a cellphone that succumbed to the forces of nature during the rescue. The phone was lost to the storm.
As they finally made their way into the warmth of the hotel, the boys of the West London Hawks felt a deep sense of fulfillment. They had come to Montreal to compete, but they had ended up doing much more. They had made a difference, turning an afternoon of chaos into one of kindness and connection.
And though they were weary from their unexpected adventure, they carried with them a story of courage and compassion that would last a lifetime—a true testament to the spirit of the Hawks.