Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 20, 1996
• Invested on: December 06, 1996

On August 24, 1992, Ms. Altimas helped a co-worker escape a man who was on a shooting spree at Concordia University in Montréal, Quebec. Hearing a strange noise she thought to be gunfire, Ms. Altimas went to warn others. As she was doing so, the deranged man began shooting at the woman's co-worker, then turned the weapon on Ms. Altimas. She hid behind a door, then ran to another room for help. Fearing for her colleague's life, she went back to the woman's office and found her wounded. She brought her into another office, but the gunman suddenly reappeared and shot towards them. Ms. Altimas grabbed the woman and ran with her down the stairs and out of the building. Three other people were killed by the gunman before police were able to subdue him.