Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: January 24, 2001
• Invested on: June 22, 2001

On the evening of February 5, 2000, Maurice Smith rescued his 16-month-old daughter from a fiery death in Manotick, Ontario. Awakened by the smoke alarm, Mr. Smith jumped out of bed as flames spread on the walls of his wooden farmhouse. He shouted to alert his wife and their five children sleeping on the second floor and tried in vain to put out the fire while the children were taken outside to safety. Rejoining his family, he was alerted by his wife that their youngest daughter was missing. With complete disregard for his own safety, he ran to the first-floor bedroom of the now flaming house and pulled the baby from her crib. After wrapping the child in a comforter, he rushed outside moments before the house burned to the ground. Luckily, the child escaped unharmed but Mr. Smith suffered burns.