Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 10, 1999
• Invested on: December 03, 1999

Lauraine Comtois-Tousignant rescued an elderly woman from a burning building on September 24, 1997 in Sorel, Quebec. Ms. Comtois-Tousignant was window-shopping in front of a clothing store when she was thrown onto the street by an explosion. Knowing that an elderly woman lived on the third floor of the building, she rushed inside and in spite of the intense, choking heat, she managed to climb the stairs to the victim's apartment. Blinded by the thick smoke, Ms.Comtois-Tousignant then guided the handicapped woman slowly down the stairs where two young people came to her aid.