In an overpacked room at the Habersham County School Board of Education meeting on Monday night, the district recognized the heroic actions of Logan Canada, a student at Cornelia Elementary School, who saved his grandfather’s life over Spring Break.
Recognized by Director of Elementary and Secondary Curriculum Patrick Franklin, along with Habersham County Sheriff’s Col. Murray Kogod, others from law enforcement and a room full of family, friends, and school staff, the 11-year-old was hailed a local hero.
“Board, it is my privilege to recognize a genuine hero tonight, we probably use that word too often, but Logan is a genuine hero and he is one of ours, he is a fifth-grade student at Cornelia Elementary,” Franklin said. “When I heard the story, it touched my heart.”
During spring break, the fifth-grade student had gone fishing on a paddleboat with his grandfather, Victor Scott, out of a local pond when Scott became unresponsive.
“During the fishing, we have a medical emergency and Victor becomes unresponsive and they are in the middle of this pond, and I am not talking about a small pond,” Franklin said. “Logan, that is when he kicks into gear, keeps grandad in the boat, starts maneuvering the boat back to shore, which is no easy task, this isn’t a little canoe or something, this is a paddleboat, this is physical.”
Once he got the paddleboat back to shore, Canada was able to get his grandfather onshore and get to a neighbor’s house to get help.
“On his own, that is a hero, what he did that day,” Franklin said, adding that law enforcement responded to the emergency and one officer told him that in their 12 years they have not witnessed such a heroic act. “That is how important it was to him. That says something right there.”
Habersham County Deputy Chase Trammell was grateful for the opportunity to recognize Canada.
“It is something that is really, really special when you hear about things like this happening in our community, it is something we need to recognize especially when it comes from our youth because they are setting the pace for the rest of their lives by making the decision they do at an early age,” Trammell said. “In this particular instance, this is nothing short of a heroic act.”
Coach Drew Reed, who not only coaches Canada in basketball but is also a corporal with the Gainesville Police Department, was not able to make the Monday night recognition but addressed the crowd through a letter read by Trammell.
“Logan is a selfless basketball player, a humble child, and downright a great kid,” Reed said. “Logan doesn’t care how many minutes he plays or how many points he scores, he just wants to win. Logan is his teammate’s biggest fan…I was impressed but not surprised when Vic called and told me about what happened. I wasn’t surprised because Logan puts others above himself.”
To celebrate Canada, the sheriff’s office gifted him with two tickets to the Atlanta Braves versus Miami Marlins baseball game along with a parking pass. Peach State Federal Credit Union also awarded Canada with a certificate of bravery along with a $100.
Habersham County School district Superintendent Matthew Cooper continued to honor Canada and his bravery by declaring May 27 “Logan Canada Day” at Cornelia Elementary School.
“I am so proud of you as your superintendent, thank you for what you did, and thank you for being one of our students at Cornelia Elementary School,” Cooper said.
Cooper asked Cornelia Elementary to “spend a lot of money” and to host a big party in honor of Canada.
“I want there to be a big party in his honor, I want the whole school to have fun, and I want you to share with the whole school why it is ‘Logan Canada Day’,” Cooper said to a cheering audience. “That they have a hero right there at their school.”