Paul Lippens has been the principal at Winnipegosis Elementary School for three years.
Before that, he taught for one year at the school. Before that, he was principal at Camperville School for 17 years. Earlier this month, his day started like any other. He got up, finished his morning duties, and made his way to work.
What happened next was what some people are calling a magical ending. When students arrived at the school at 9:00 a.m., they told Paul they saw a deer stuck in the snow near the school. After the announcements, Paul went outside and noticed the deer was stuck and visibly exhausted.
Paul approached the deer cautiously and tapped the animal on the back in an attempt to help it escape, but it barely moved.
Lippens picked up the deer and put it on the path, but after it took two or three steps, it stepped into deeper snow and fell back.
"At that point, I picked it up again and carried it to the road in the back of the school yard, set it down, and made sure it was standing on the road," said Lippens. "That way, I figured it had the best chance to make it without getting stuck again."
The deer watched Paul make his way back to the school and then made its way.
What started as a frantic situation turned into a magical moment. Paul saved what could have been a terrible turnout, and the deer made its way back into its natural habitat.
"It was a pretty cool experience. It was something you don't get to do every day," ended Lippens. "I've never actually been that close to a deer in my life. You see them all the time, but you never get to touch them. It was kind of cool that I had the chance to do that."
It's true, not all heroes wear capes, but Paul Lippens is certainly a hero.
