Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: October 18, 1976
• Invested on: February 11, 1977

Capt. John Connors rescued four people from an apartment building in Ottawa, which was extensively damaged by fire in the early hours of 21 January 1976. Hearing a woman's cries for help to save her two children, Capt. Connors ran to the front door, but heat and dense smoke prevented his entering. Calling to the children, he told them to keep close to the floor and go to a window at the back of the building. Here he climbed a fence and broke the window. He lifted an eight-year-old girl through the opening, then entered in search of the other child. After twice retreating for air he found a boy and carried him to safety. Another cry for help was then heard from a woman trapped with her baby in an apartment above. Once again standing on the fence, Capt. Connors lowered the baby to the ground, then helped the mother down.