On October 31, 2013, Ali Belhis risked his life to end a hostage-taking incident at École Gabrielle-Roy, in Surrey, British Columbia. After alerting his colleagues to the danger and calling for a lockdown of the school, Mr. Belhis confronted the hostage taker on the school yard. He spoke with the man in an effort to calm him down and to prevent him from entering the school. He continued to engage the hostage taker, pleading with him to let the child go, until the police arrived and restrained the individual.