Visit at the Citadelle of Québec - Day 1

The Governor General presented mixed honours to 27 recipients at the Citadelle of Québec. "As members of the Canadian Police Services, you have shown leadership and exceptional effort in policing and community development," said His Excellency. "As members of the Canadian Forces, you have demonstrated great military valour and provided exemplary service in the exercise of your duties. As recipients of Canadian Bravery Decorations, you have defied the instinct for self-preservation by risking your lives to save or protect others. And as Caring Canadians, you have built a smarter, more caring nation by volunteering your time to help others."

Huguette G. Tremblay was also presented with the Caring Canadian Award. Since 1975, she has devoted herself to bringing joy to seniors as a volunteer with Pierreville’s Centre d’hébergement Lucien Shooner. As such, she has helped to improve seniors’ quality of life by entertaining them or simply accompanying them as they go about their day-to-day tasks. She also founded the Meals on Wheels service in her village, which assists numerous families.

Élise Gignac Whittom also received the Caring Canadian Award. She has advocated for and protected the interests of her community for over 40 years. She has also volunteered her time for such endeavours as the Musée de Sept-Îles corporation, the expansion of a seniors’ home, and the renovation of a church, for which she raised thousands of dollars.

Léo Descheneaux received the Governor General's Caring Canadian Award. For over 42 years, Brother Deschenaux has guided hundreds of youths, helping them to find themselves and reach their full potential through sport. He established several teams and associations in his region for such sports as hockey, speed skating and archery. He has also been very actively involved in religious, social and community causes.

Patrick Grondin, M.B., also received the Medal of Bravery from His Excellency. On May 2, 2010, Mr. Grondin saved a woman who was being attacked by her former spouse, in Lévis, Quebec. Mr. Grondin saw the woman come out of her apartment, pursued by a man who was striking her with a machete as she attempted to flee. Mr. Grondin approached, ordered the attacker to stop and shouted at the victim to run. The attacker threatened Mr. Grondin with the weapon and began chasing the victim again. Mr. Grondin then threw himself on the suspect, immobilized him and restrained him until the police arrived, thus saving the victim’s life.

Sébastien Gilbert, M.B., received the Medal of Bravery from His Excellency. On November 13, 2008, Mr. Gilbert risked his life to rescue a co-worker who was trapped in a silo at a concrete-mixing plant, in Saint-Eustache, Quebec. The man had been standing on the sand at the top of the silo, making repairs to machinery, when the doors at the bottom accidentally opened up and sucked him underneath. At the control panel, Mr. Gilbert stopped the operation, ran to the top of the silo and descended into the dark. Using his hands and his hard hat, he shovelled sand away from the victim to get his head uncovered. Mr. Gilbert called for help as the sand beneath them was unstable and more was continually falling on top of them. Firefighters arrived and got Mr. Gilbert out. After several hours, they also managed to free the victim.

Marcel Bouffard, S.C., also received the Star of Courage from His Excellency. On September 16, 2010, Mr. Bouffard rescued his friend after their boat had capsized in the Côte-Sainte-Catherine Bassin, Quebec. The two men were fishing during a light drizzle when the wind and rain suddenly intensified. When the friend reached to pull up the anchor, the boat tipped over and sent them both into the water. Mr. Bouffard grabbed his friend with one hand and held on to the hull of the boat with the other. For nearly two hours, in the heavy downpour, Mr. Bouffard held on to the panicked man as they made slow progress towards the shore. Once on land, Mr. Bouffard left the semi-conscious victim in a secure location and, in total darkness, made his way through difficult terrain to get help. Thanks to Mr. Bouffard’s tenacity and courageous efforts, his friend survived.

Simon Bernier, S.C., received the Star of Courage from His Excellency. On July 16, 2010, Simon Bernier, then 15 years old, courageously rescued his father and his great-uncle from a burning plane, in a remote area of northern Quebec. The small plane had been carrying Simon, four family members and the pilot, when it crashed into a mountain and burst into flames. Simon escaped, while his younger brother, who had been thrown clear of the plane, lay injured nearby. Simon pulled his unconscious father from the fiery wreck and brought him a safe distance away. He then pulled out his great-uncle who had sustained multiple injuries and burns. Due to the intense heat and flames around the plane, he was unable to reach the other two victims. Sadly, his brother and father did not survive the crash. Yet Simon stayed focused and helped his great-uncle for over nine hours while guiding the rescue team to their position.

Corporal Marco Tremblay, M.M.V., received the Medal of Military Valour from His Excellency. On May 18, 2011, during an enemy ambush in Sperwan Ghar, Afghanistan, Corporal Tremblay demonstrated courage and determination. When the first enemy shots were fired, a Canadian soldier was hit in the leg and unable to take cover. Keeping calm under continuous fire, Corporal Tremblay reached the soldier, immediately applied a tourniquet to stop the bleeding and, during a lull, dragged the soldier to safety. Corporal Tremblay’s bravery enabled him to save the life of a Canadian soldier.

Corporal Jean-François Roger Donald Belzil, S.M.V., received the Star of Military Valour from His Excellency. On April 9, 2011, upon intercepting enemy radio transmissions, 3 Platoon, A Company, awaited an attack on the security cordon established to the north of Zangabad, Afghanistan. When the first insurgent shot rang out, Corporal Belzil and Corporal Cousineau moved in that direction with their anti-tank gun, coming across a Canadian section and its Afghan counterpart pinned down under enemy fire, as well as a seriously wounded Afghan soldier lying out in the open. Thanks to Corporal Cousineau’s effective covering fire, and despite heavy enemy fire, Corporal Belzil succeeded in destroying the stronghold from which the deadly insurgent shots originated. They both then pulled the wounded soldier to cover and administered first aid. Corporal Belzil and Corporal Cousineau’s composure and disregard for personal danger helped to push back the enemy attack and save the life of an Afghan soldier.

During this ceremony, Inspector William (Bill) A. Renton, M.O.M., of the Woodstock Police Service, was invested as Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces.