(Clearwisdom.net) Canada Falun Gong practitioner Mr. Yuqing Chen was given an Outstanding Citizen for Self-Sacrifice For the Sake of Others award for his heroic actions in saving the life of a young girl. He is the first Chinese in Quebec history to win this honor. Mr. Chen said that his heroic action was inspired by the teachings of Falun Dafa.

The Minister of Immigration for Quebec with Mr. Chen and his family	The Minister of Immigration issues award

The Epoch Times reports from Quebec that on November 17, the Immigration Department honored 24 citizens in the Quebec parliament for self-sacrifice for the sake of others. Mr. Yuqing Chen received the award and became the first Chinese in Quebec to do so.

Mr. Chen immigrated to Canada from Guangxi Province, China. He is currently a Montreal resident. On the afternoon of March 9, 2002, he accompanied a friend to have his friend's car repaired in a garage in Verdun. Suddenly, a kid shouted while running, "A girl fell into canal!" Mr. Chen ran towards the canal right away and saw a little girl was struggling in a ice hollow about 10 meters away from bank. Without a second thought, he crept on the ice towards her, got hold of the girl's hand, and rescued her out of the ice hollow. The weather was getting warm and the ice on the canal started melting. Kids played on the ice and the little girl stepped on thin ice, falling into the canal. Friends called the ambulance and the girl was rushed to hospital. Mr. Chen returned home without a second thought. Later, the Verdun police found him after asking around for a long time, and issued an award to him in April 2002.

Ms. Michelle Courchesne, Quebec's Minister of Immigration said, "As far as I know, this is the first Asian Canadian citizen receiving such an honor in Quebec. I am pleased for the contributions of the Chinese community and our Chinese friends to the society. I'd like to say thank you to our Chinese friends."

When a reporter asked him what made him consider rescuing the girl from the icy canal, he said, "I did not think about anything. Upon seeing a little girl struggling in the icy water, I did not think anything. As a Falun Dafa practitioner, I follow the teachings and help those in danger. If I see someone is dying and do not rescue him, I am not a qualified practitioner."

Mr. Chen's wife said, "I am proud of him."

The award was established in 1974 and is issued annually. The government passed a bill in 1977 to make sure this activity is conducted over the long term and to have those who lose their life or become handicapped by saving another's life be recognized and awarded by society. The bill is also to make sure that the behavior of sacrificing one's own interests for the sake of others is honored.