We have all been surrounded by Neighbourhood Heroes throughout our lives. Think of your parents, grandparents, other relatives and their friends, many of whom have long since passed away.

My friend Don Clayton's father is today's Neighbourhood Hero.

Chas Clayton's favorite saying was "If we help each other out, we'll all get even in the end."

With that philosophy, from his childhood until the day he died, he planted seeds of kindness that are still being harvested today.

Through the 40's and early 50's snow clearing on Alberta's country roads left much to be desired. As a small boy Chas' son, Don, remembers frequent winter calls from neighbours trapped in town by snowstorms, unable to get to get up the steep hill in front of their farm.

Everyone knew if they could get up Clayton hill, they could get home but the hill was an impassable obstacle ... unless they had help. Not only was it steep but there was something about the way it lay against the wind -- there were always huge snowdrifts to deal with as well as the hill.

Everyone also knew that if they called Chas before they left town, he'd be waiting at the bottom of the hill with his tractor, ready to help.

Over and over again, Don remembers his Dad hanging up the phone and immediately heading to the old wood stove to shake down red-hot coals into a bucket. With young Donald at his side, Chas would slip the coals under the tractor to heat the engine. Then they would fill the radiator with hot water and carry the battery from a warm spot behind the kitchen stove and slip it into its icy cradle.

Given this special care, old Betsy would soon stutter into action, ready to help the stranded neighbours.

Once they reached the road they would drive up and down the hill a few times to break a trail. Chas would drive and Don would hang on behind hugging his Dad. Then they would wait at the bottom, backs to the storm.

When the neighbours arrived, Don would hook a chain to their vehicle, and Chas would tow them up the hill.

Time and again as the neighbours were preparing to depart, Don remembers his father being offered money, two dollars, sometimes even five, money they could have used around the farm ... but it was never accepted.

"Next chance you get, give someone else a hand," Chas would say. "If we help each other out, we'll all get even in the end."

I wonder how many strangers have been helped over the years because of Chase Clayton's philosophy of life? How many passed on the favour, and how many of those favours were passed on again, and yet again.

I know kids with Cystic Fibrosis benefited back in 1986. That's when I first met Don. He had volunteered to donate hundreds of dollars worth of printing to the Cystic Fibrosis Radiothon and more than that, he found others to donate the paper.

When I invited him to lunch to thank him for his donation, one of the first things he said was, "If we help each other out, we'll all get even in the end."

Charles Henry Baxter Clayton, Chas Clayton, is today's Neighbourhood Hero. Throughout his life, until his death on May 28, 1991, he practiced what he preached and because he did, he will continue to make a difference for generations to come.