Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 5, 1983
• Invested on: June 22, 1984

Marc Benoit, M.B.
Daniel Léo Hervé Godin, M.B.
André Lanthier, M.B.
Constable Daniel Paquin, M.B.
Constable Patrick Sauvé, M.B.
Michel Vandal, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

In the small hours of the morning of 9 November 1982, fire broke out at the Waikiki Tourist Rooms located on Lagauchetière Street in Montreal. The actions of Marc Benoit, Daniel Godin, André Lanthier and Michel Vandal, all area residents, along with Constables Daniel Paquin and Patrick Sauvé of the Montreal Urban Community Police Department, saved the lives of many elderly lodgers. On finishing their evening shift as employees of a social club, Messrs. Benoit, Godin, Lanthier and Vandal were told that flames were spreading rapidly through the three-story, country-old building across the street. They rushed over. Mr. Godin pushed a door open and entered on hands and knees through dense smoke, followed by the others. Two policemen on duty, Constables Paquin and Sauvé, arrived soon after and also braved the blaze. Putting themselves at great personal risk, despite the intense heat and suffocating smoke, the rescuers aroused the residents and helped many of the feeble and disoriented men to the safety of the street. The fire soon engulfed the structure, preventing the rescuers from any further attempt to reach the occupants of the third floor. Unfortunately eight people perished. But for the concerted efforts of the six rescuers, more lives would certainly have been lost.