Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: January 16, 1996
• Invested on: May 17, 1996

On March 11, 1994, Capt. Desjardins calmed a distraught man, armed with a revolver, who fired into the ceiling of the Timmins Armoury, in Ontario. While people sought cover in nearby rooms, the gunman yelled, screamed and kicked at the doors. After ensuring that the people near him got safely outside, an unarmed Capt. Desjardins confronted the gunman. More than an hour later, he was able to calm the man and convince him to let everyone else leave the Armoury. Even though the gunman threatened to shoot Capt. Desjardins, the Captain was eventually able to negotiate his own release and the man surrendered to police a few hours later.