Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: July 3, 1996
• Invested on: December 06, 1996

On the morning of May 21, 1995, at a tree-planting camp at Williston Lake, British Columbia, Mr. Marchuk saved his cousin from being mauled by a bear. Mr. Marchuk noticed his cousin wrestling with what he thought was another tree-planter. However, as he approached the pair, he realized it was a black bear that was attacking his cousin. Without hesitation, he grabbed a log and struck the animal until it relinquished its hold. The two men ran towards the camp with the angry bear in pursuit. When the bear once again grasped the cousin, Mr. Marchuk threw the log at it to scare it away. Other tree-planters then arrived, armed with rifles, and shot it. The victim later recovered after suffering severe lacerations to his head, arms and legs.