OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Mar 4, 2015) - His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present 40 Medals of Bravery at a ceremony at Rideau Hall, on Friday, March 6, 2015, at 10:30 a.m.
Created in 1972, Decorations for Bravery recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect the lives of others. The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
A schedule for the presentation ceremony, a list of recipients and their citations, and a fact sheet on the Decorations for Bravery are enclosed.
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CEREMONY SCHEDULE
Members of the media are asked to observe the following schedule:
| 9:45 a.m.: | Media start to arrive at Rideau Hall |
| 10:30 a.m.: | Ceremony begins |
| The Governor General speaks | |
| The Governor General presents the Decorations for Bravery | |
| 11:45 a.m.: | Interviews with recipients |
RECIPIENTS
MEDAL OF BRAVERY
| Sergeant Jason Cary Bromstad, M.B., C.D. | Regina, Sask. and Ottawa, Ont. |
| Craig Mitchell Burns, M.B. | Weymouth, N.S. |
| Tyler Andrew Campbell, M.B. | Weyburn and Saskatoon, Sask. |
| John Michael Cerne, M.B. | Penticton and Naramata, B.C. |
| Paul David Charbonneau, M.B. | Rouyn-Noranda, Que. and Tincap, Ont. |
| Corporal Christopher James Clark, M.B., C.D. | Saskatoon, Sask. |
| Micheal James Collicutte, M.B. | Windsor, Ont. |
| Marcel Cormier, M.B. | Gaspé and Matane, Que. |
| Detective Constable Paul Couvillon, M.B. | Ajax, Ont. |
| Paul Dallaire, M.B. | La Malbaie and Saint-Romuald, Que. |
| Michael Douglas Dietrich, M.B. | Kitchener, Ont. |
| Detective Constable Ed Downey, M.B. | West Hill, Ont. |
| Constable Steven Michael Enns, M.B. | Estevan, Sask. |
| Constable Carl Ethier, M.B. | Montréal, Que. |
| Michel Joseph Fecteau, M.B. | Larder Lake, Ont. |
| Franklyn Patrick Fraser, S.C., M.B. | Alberton, P.E.I. |
| Romey Francis Gerald Fraser, M.B. | Alberton, P.E.I. |
| Kyle Andrew Griffiths, M.B. | Ignace and Fort Frances, Ont. |
| Dale Corey Hession, M.B. | Calgary and Rocky Mountain House, Alta. |
| Dario Kenk, M.B. | Acton, Ont. |
| James Patrick Kitchen, M.B. | Squamish, B.C. |
| Constable Trevor Lamont, M.B. | Hamilton and Hagersville, Ont. |
| Detective Constable Keith Lindley, M.B. | Brooklin, Ont. |
| William Alexander Marshall, M.B. | Hartington, Ont. |
| Brian Francis McCormick, M.B. | Windsor, Ont. |
| Constable Scott M. Moir, M.B. | Thorold, Ont. |
| Peter Richard Moody, M.B. | Kimberley, B.C. |
| Jeremy David Olson, M.B. | Dryden, Ont. |
| Sigurd Allan Olson, M.B. | Dryden, Ont. |
| Courtney Gail Porter, M.B. | Newmarket, Ont. |
| Joseph A. Raczkowski, M.B. | Cobourg, Ont. |
| Constable Luc Roberge, M.B. | Montréal, Que. |
| Kyle D. Simpson, M.B. | Larder Lake, Ont. |
| James Christopher Daniel Slatcher, M.B. | Keswick, Ont. |
| Harry Brad Smith, M.B. | Renfrew, Ont. |
| Fred St-Pierre, M.B. | Ottawa, Ont. and Otter Lake, Que. |
| François Tremblay, M.B. | Calgary, Alta. and Gaspé, Que. |
| Jacob Tyler, M.B. | Binbrook, Ont. |
| John Owen Tyler, M.B. | Coboconk, Ont. |
| Anthony Eric Williams, M.B. (posthumous) | Burlington, NC, U.S.A. |
CITATIONS
MEDAL OF BRAVERY
| Sergeant Jason Cary Bromstad, M.B., C.D. |
| Regina, Saskatchewan and Ottawa, Ontario |
| Paul David Charbonneau, M.B. |
| Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec and Tincap, Ontario |
| Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Salter, M.B., C.D. (Ret'd) |
| Nairn Centre and Russell, Ontario |
On June 29, 2012, Sergeant Jason Bromstad, Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Salter and Paul Charbonneau pulled an injured man from a burning vehicle on Highway 401, near Gananoque, Ontario. As a result of a collision, the fuel tank of the victim's vehicle ruptured and the leaking fuel ignited. In spite of the rapidly spreading flames, the rescuers worked to pry open the door and drag the victim to safety, moments before the truck became fully engulfed.
The decoration awarded to Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Salter will be presented to him at a future ceremony.
| Craig Mitchell Burns, M.B. |
| Weymouth, Nova Scotia |
| Mason James Van Tassell, M.B. |
| Digby and Bear River, Nova Scotia |
On May 8, 2012, Craig Burns and Mason Van Tassell tried to free three people who were trapped inside their burning cars in Little Brook, Nova Scotia. Following a two-vehicle crash, Messrs. Burns and Van Tassell braved the intense heat and flames in an attempt to retrieve the injured victims. Despite their efforts, two occupants in one of the vehicles did not survive.
The decoration awarded to Mr. Van Tassell was presented at a previous ceremony.
| Tyler Andrew Campbell, M.B. |
| Weyburn and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
| Corporal Christopher James Clark, M.B., C.D. |
| Saskatoon, Saskatchewan |
On March 15, 2013, security officers Tyler Campbell and Christopher Clark rescued a female patient from a burning hospital room in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Messrs. Campbell and Clark had to retreat several times from the area due to the thick smoke, but they still managed to locate the victim and bring her to a safer area.
| John Michael Cerne, M.B. |
| Penticton and Naramata, British Columbia |
On March 23, 2012, John Cerne rescued an injured co-worker following the explosion of a diamond drill in Thor Lake, Northwest Territories. After escaping the fire and putting out the flames on his clothes, Mr. Cerne ran back inside the burning drilling shack to retrieve his colleague and bring him to safety.
| Micheal James Collicutte, M.B. |
| Windsor, Ontario |
| Andrew Zaranek, M.B. |
| Mississauga, Ontario |
On May 24, 2012, Micheal Collicutte and Andrew Zaranek rescued a man from a burning vehicle near Ayr, Ontario. The victim had become incapacitated, which caused him to crash his vehicle into a transport truck, where it caught on fire. Messrs. Collicutte and Zaranek managed to pull the victim out seconds before the vehicle became completely engulfed.
The decoration awarded to Mr. Zaranek will be presented to him at a future ceremony.
| Marcel Cormier, M.B. |
| Gaspé and Matane, Quebec |
| Paul Dallaire, M.B. |
| La Malbaie and Saint-Romuald, Quebec |
On the stormy night of August 29, 2011, Marcel Cormier and Paul Dallaire rescued two men from a burning vehicle in Baie-des-Rochers, Quebec. The victims' car had crashed into a large sink hole and caught fire. In spite of the heavy rainfall, strong winds and deteriorating roadway, Messrs. Cormier and Dallaire pulled the two victims out to safety before the flames completely engulfed the car.
| Detective Constable Paul Couvillon, M.B. |
| Ajax, Ontario |
| Detective Constable Ed Downey, M.B. |
| West Hill, Ontario |
| Detective Constable Keith Lindley, M.B. |
| Brooklin, Ontario |
On January 19, 2013, detective constables Paul Couvillon, Ed Downey and Keith Lindley rescued a suicidal man who had climbed an antenna tower atop a house in Oshawa, Ontario. The officers climbed up the fragile structure and, after several minutes of intense confrontation with the mentally unstable man, they managed to lower him to the roof where they restrained him until emergency services arrived.
| Michael Douglas Dietrich, M.B. |
| Kitchener, Ontario |
| Dario Kenk, M.B. |
| Acton, Ontario |
On June 28, 2012, Michael Dietrich and Dario Kenk rescued a man from a burning vehicle on Highway 401, in Milton, Ontario. The car had crashed into and became wedged against a concrete barrier, where it caught fire. Despite the intense smoke and flames, both rescuers managed to pull the trapped driver out through the passenger-side window of the vehicle and carry him to safety.
| Constable Steven Michael Enns, M.B. |
| Estevan, Saskatchewan |
On May 18, 2012, Constable Steven Enns rescued four people from a burning house in Estevan, Saskatchewan. While on patrol, Constable Enns saw smoke and ran inside the house to warn the occupants of the fire. He then ran upstairs, snatched up a young boy and led another victim to the staircase. With the ceiling threatening to collapse, Constable Enns blindly made his way through the thick, black smoke and brought the victims to safety.
| Constable Carl Ethier, M.B. |
| Constable Luc Roberge, M.B. |
| Montréal, Quebec |
On May 29, 2012, Montréal police constables Carl Ethier and Luc Roberge rescued a suicidal woman from the top of a 22-storey building in Montréal, Quebec. The constables scaled a four-foot-high safety wall and crawled on a narrow ledge towards the intoxicated victim. They placed themselves dangerously close to the edge in order to reach her and bring her to safety.
| Michel Joseph Fecteau, M.B. |
| Kyle D. Simpson, M.B. |
| Larder Lake, Ontario |
On November 6, 2012, Mike Fecteau and Kyle Simpson rescued two men whose boat had overturned on Lake Wendigo, near Englehart, Ontario. Messrs. Fecteau and Simpson made their way through strong rapids to reach the victims. With the weight of the men's wet clothing threatening to topple their small rescue boat, Messrs. Fecteau and Simpson successfully pulled both men aboard and ferried them to a nearby landing.
| Franklyn Patrick Fraser, S.C., M.B. |
| Romey Francis Gerald Fraser, M.B. |
| Alberton, Prince Edward Island |
On April 27, 2012, brothers Franklyn and Romey Fraser rescued a man from a burning house in Northport, Prince Edward Island. At the risk of being trapped inside the unstable structure, they entered the fully engulfed house, searched through the heavy smoke to find the victim and carried him outside to safety.
| Kyle Andrew Griffiths, M.B. |
| Ignace and Fort Frances, Ontario |
On June 5, 2012, Kyle Griffiths braved intense heat and smoke to pull an unconscious man from a burning vehicle in Emo, Ontario. The car had been hit by a train at a railway crossing and was pushed a significant distance down the track before it caught on fire. Mr. Griffiths ran to the vehicle and was able to unlatch the unresponsive driver's seatbelt and pull him out. Sadly, the victim did not survive.
| Dale Corey Hession, M.B. |
| Calgary and Rocky Mountain House, Alberta |
| Jacob Tyler, M.B. |
| Binbrook, Ontario |
| John Owen Tyler, M.B. |
| Coboconk, Ontario |
On December 5, 2012, Dale Hession, Jacob Tyler and John Tyler rescued an injured man from a burning car near Kitimat, British Columbia. The vehicle had struck an oncoming truck and had ignited on impact. The passenger was able to get out on his own but the driver was still trapped inside. Despite the heat, smoke and flames, the rescuers were able to free the victim and carry him a safe distance away.
| James Patrick Kitchen, M.B. |
| Squamish, British Columbia |
| William Dennis Ward, M.B. |
| Calgary, Alberta |
On March 13, 2011, helicopter pilot James Kitchen and William Ward rescued two Inuit hunters who had fallen through the ice near Frobisher Bay, Nunavut. While Mr. Kitchen skilfully kept his helicopter hovering over the water, Mr. Ward reached down to rescue the two victims, pulling them into the helicopter one after the other, all while battling the unforgiving Arctic winds.
The decoration awarded to Mr. Ward was presented at a previous ceremony.
| Constable Trevor Lamont, M.B. |
| Hamilton and Hagersville, Ontario |
| Constable Scott M. Moir, M.B. |
| Thorold, Ontario |
On June 20, 2012, Ontario Provincial Police constables Trevor Lamont and Scott Moir rescued a man from an SUV that had crashed into a fuel truck in Caledonia, Ontario. The driver of the fuel truck was able to escape, but the flames quickly spread to the two tank trailers filled with gasoline. Despite the risk of explosion, constables Lamont and Moir ran to the SUV and freed the severely injured driver who, sadly, did not survive.
| William Alexander Marshall, M.B. |
| Hartington, Ontario |
| Harry Brad Smith, M.B. |
| Renfrew, Ontario |
On February 12, 2012, William Marshall and paramedic Brad Smith were instrumental in the rescue of a man whose snowmobile had broken through the ice on Calabogie Lake, in Calabogie, Ontario. Mr. Marshall managed to hold on to the victim for over an hour before Mr. Smith arrived in a small canoe to render assistance. Although Mr. Smith fell into the water in his attempt to help, all three were rescued by firefighters and by others who pulled them to shore.
| Brian Francis McCormick, M.B. |
| Windsor, Ontario |
On December 10, 2012, Brian McCormick rescued his neighbour from a burning house in Windsor, Ontario. The distraught man had set fire to his house, which quickly filled with dark, toxic smoke. Mr. McCormick ran inside and managed to drag his reluctant neighbour to safety.
| Peter Richard Moody, M.B. |
| Kimberley, British Columbia |
On November 25, 2012, Peter Moody risked his life to protect his wife who was being attacked by a bear in Kimberley, British Columbia. The couple was hiking in a wooded area when they encountered the grizzly, which attacked the woman and pinned her to the ground. Using a ski pole as a weapon, Mr. Moody diverted the bear's attention, even after having been attacked himself. The couple remained motionless to convince the bear they were no threat. After the bear left the area, the severely injured couple managed to walk to a nearby house where they found help.
| Jeremy David Olson, M.B. |
| Sigurd Allan Olson, M.B. |
| Dryden, Ontario |
On November 14, 2012, Jeremy Olson and his father, Sigurd Olson, rescued their 85-year-old neighbour who had fallen through the ice on Lake Wabigoon, in Dryden, Ontario. They pushed a canoe to the scene and got the victim to climb into it. After falling in the water themselves, the father and son finally managed to get out of their precarious position and bring the victim to safety.
| Courtney Gail Porter, M.B. |
| Newmarket, Ontario |
| James Christopher Daniel Slatcher, M.B. |
| Keswick, Ontario |
On July 11, 2011, Courtney Porter and James Slatcher evacuated several residents from a burning apartment complex in Georgina, Ontario. When they saw smoke coming from the three-story building, the two friends ran inside to alert and help other occupants escape as flames quickly consumed the ceiling above the top-floor apartments. Thanks to the quick and selfless actions of Ms. Porter and Mr. Slatcher, all the residents of the 36-unit building survived.
| Joseph A. Raczkowski, M.B. |
| Cobourg, Ontario |
On January 10, 2012, Joseph Raczkowski rescued a taxi driver from his burning vehicle in Hamilton, Ontario. Following a crash that had rendered the victim dazed and injured, Mr. Raczkowski pulled the man from the car and carried him on an improvised stretcher, away from the burning wreck.
| Fred St-Pierre, M.B. |
| Ottawa, Ontario and Otter Lake, Quebec |
On February 5, 2012, Fred St-Pierre rescued his brother from their burning house in Otter Lake, Quebec. Mr. St-Pierre entered the smoke-filled residence and found his brother lying unconscious on the floor but was forced to retreat to get air. Undeterred, Mr. St-Pierre re-entered the house and dragged the victim out of the blaze moments before the house was fully engulfed in flames.
| François Tremblay, M.B. |
| Calgary, Alberta and Gaspé, Quebec |
On August 9, 2012, François Tremblay rescued an injured woman from a burning vehicle in Gaspé, Quebec. The victim's vehicle had gone down a steep ditch and hit a tree. Mr. Tremblay helped the woman get out, but she lost consciousness due to her injuries. A fire suddenly flared up and grew in intensity, trapping them both between the steep incline and the surrounding trees. Bystanders came to help Mr. Tremblay bring the victim to safety.
| Blaine Switzer, M.B. |
| Swift Current, Saskatchewan |
| Jonathan Thomason, M.B. |
| Bethune and Rush Lake, Saskatchewan |
| Anthony Eric Williams, M.B. (posthumous) |
| Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A. |
On October 11, 2011, Blaine Switzer, Jonathan Thomason and Anthony Williams rescued an injured woman from a burning vehicle near Rush Lake, Saskatchewan. The men managed to bend the damaged door frame to pull the unconscious passenger out before the vehicle became completely engulfed.
The decoration awarded posthumously to the late Mr. Williams will be received by his father, Mr. Kenneth Arthur Williams.
The decorations awarded to Messrs. Switzer and Thomason were presented at a previous ceremony.
FACT SHEET ON THE DECORATIONS FOR BRAVERY
BACKGROUND
The Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972. They recognize people who risk their lives and choose to defy their own instinct of survival to try to save a loved one or a perfect stranger whose life is in immediate danger.
The three levels of the Decorations for Bravery reflect the degree to which the recipients put themselves at risk:
| The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. | |
| The Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. | |
| The Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. |
ELIGIBILITY AND NOMINATION
Anyone is free to propose the name of a person who has risked injury or death in an attempt to rescue another person. The incident need not have taken place in Canada, and the rescuer need not be Canadian, but Canadians or Canadian interests must be involved. The decorations may be awarded posthumously.
Nominations must be made within two years of the incident, or within two years after a public entity, including a court, a quasi-judicial tribunal or a coroner, has concluded its review of the circumstances surrounding the incident or act of bravery.
For more information on the Decorations for Bravery, please visit www.gg.ca/honours.
