Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: May 2, 1977
• Invested on: June 17, 1977

John Tooley, aged seventy-two, rescued a two-year-old boy from the basement of the child's home following an explosion at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, on 14 August 1976. At the time of the blast the child was playing alone while his mother was on the ground floor. When alerted, the woman rushed to the basement staircase but had to retreat in the face of the intense heat and smoke. She then called to her neighbour Mr. Tooley, and when they returned to the scene he tried to enter the basement. At first smoke forced him back, but he persisted and groped his way around. Finally he found the child lying on his back in a far corner of the room and very carefully took him upstairs. The child was then rushed to hospital but died the following day.