Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 27, 1998
• Invested on: May 10, 1999

On December 8, 1997, off-duty Correctional Off. Robert Hawkins rescued two elderly people from a burning apartment in Saint John, New Brunswick. Mr. Hawkins was driving home at night when he saw smoke pouring from a second floor apartment. Alerted that two people remained inside, he rushed up the stairs, lay down on his stomach and crawled through thick smoke and intense heat towards voices in the distance. As the sound grew louder he saw a woman's feet and when he reached her, she collapsed to the floor. He picked her up and followed the sound of the other voice until he located the man. With the woman in his arms and the man holding onto his belt, Mr. Hawkins was then able to escape through the back door.