Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 8, 1981
• Invested on: September 18, 1981

Chris Boychuk, M.B.
James William Chrones, M.B.
Judith Ritchey, M.B.
Constable Daniel Leonard Wiks, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

Chris Boychuk, James Chones, Judi Ritchey and Cst. Daniel Wiks combined their efforts to save a man from drowning in the South Saskatchewan River at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on December 20, 1979. The blind man inadvertently fell into the icy and turbulent waters of the river. His seeing eye dog ran up and down the river barking excitedly. This attracted Mrs. Ritchey's attention. She rushed over the frozen river followed by Mr. Boychuk, both stretched on the ice, threw a scarf to the victim before they realized he could not see. When the man was suddenly carried out five metres by the current, Mr. Boychuk crawled along the ice and grabbed him by the hood of the parka he was wearing. Cst. Wiks who had just arrived helped Mr. Boychuk pull the drowning man out while Mr. Chrones, who had rushed to the scene from his nearby home, and Mrs. Ritchey hung on to them. The rescuers wrapped the victim in their jackets. Meanwhile the dog, who wanted to help his master, had fallen in. The four then risked themselves again in a repeat of their earlier performance to hoist him out.