Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 1983-01-17
Invested on: 1983-03-04
On the morning of 28 March 1980, Richard Cliche was working with his father on the roof of a house beside Lake Massawippi. Suddenly he heard cries for help and saw that two fishermen had fallen through the ice in an area of deep water. Mr. Cliche quickly came down the roof, drove to the village to fetch a rope and returned to the shore. Risking his own safety, he inched his way over the ice. One of the fishermen had managed to get out of the open water; with much persistence Mr. Cliche recovered the second and took them to shore. During all that time, there was danger of the ice collapsing.