Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 17, 2003
• Invested on: September 12, 2003

On April 22, 2001, Capt John MacInnis entered a burning apartment in Pictou, Nova Scotia, in an attempt to rescue a man. Noticing flames coming out of the housing complex, Capt MacInnis rushed to one of the apartments where the occupant informed him that his son was still in the adjacent apartment, trapped in his second-floor bedroom. After grabbing a flashlight, Capt MacInnis ran to the unit and smashed a window to gain entry to the smoke-filled apartment. Although blinded by the thick smoke, he raced upstairs and, ignoring debris falling from the ceiling, began searching for the victim. He had checked all the rooms but one when, despite his best efforts, he was overcome by the smoke and unbearable heat, and forced to crawl back down the stairs and out of the residence. Despite Capt MacInnis' best efforts, the fire claimed the victim's life.