Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 23, 2004
• Invested on: June 24, 2005

On July 16, 2003, 12-year-old Katharina Ham lost her life while attempting to rescue her 7-year-old sister who had slipped off a rock and had become caught in the undertow of an irrigation canal, near Medicine Hat, Alberta. Katharina's sister had gone down the steep, rock-covered embankment to wash her feet when she slipped and fell in the canal. Aware that her little sister could not swim, Katharina jumped in the water after her and managed to drag her to the edge of the canal but, exhausted, was unable to lift her on the slippery surface. Sadly, Katharina and her sister were swept away by the strong current and both drowned.