Honours Presentation at the Citadelle of Québec

The Star of Courage recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril.

Mr. Benoit Bourbonnais and Mr. James Arthur Parker, from Saint-Hubert, Quebec, were awarded the Medal of Bravery.

On May 15, 2011, Benoit Bourbonnais and off-duty firefighter James Parker rescued a man from a burning apartment, in Longueuil, Quebec. Mr. Parker had been driving by when he noticed smoke coming from a second-floor window of the building. He yelled at the main floor residents to get out before running up the outside staircase to the burning apartment. He opened the door and crawled beneath the thick, black smoke. He located the tenant in one of the rooms and brought him outside. Braving the fire and smoke, Mr. Parker went back inside to search for other victims and, finding no one, made his way back out. He bumped into Mr. Bourbonnais who, despite the wall of smoke, had also entered when he saw the tenant run back inside. Mr. Bourbonnais grabbed the resisting man and, with Mr. Parker’s help, pulled him outside.

Ms. Cindy Levasseur, from Sainte-Sophie, Quebec, was also presented with the Medal of Bravery.

On May 21, 2011, Cindy Levasseur rescued her stepson from a possible drowning in the rapids, in Rawdon, Quebec. The boy had been at the edge of the river when he was suddenly swept up by the strong current. With no thought for her own safety, Ms. Levasseur swam out to him and pulled him to the surface. Although exhausted, cut and bruised, she held onto him as they were swept down several levels of cascades and whirlpools. At the lower level of the rapids, still holding onto the boy, she clung to a large rock, unable to move due to her injuries. Her husband then arrived and brought them safely to shore.

The Meritorious Service Medal was presented to Lieutenant-Colonel Maxime Talbot, from Montréal, Quebec.

Between 2006 to 2011, Lieutenant-Colonel Talbot made an impressive contribution to the delivery of medical care in Afghanistan. Serving over 400 days as an orthopedic surgeon at the Kandahar Role 3 hospital, he provided exceptional care and worked tirelessly to improve Afghan medical capacity through his mentorship and acquisition of equipment. He has held key leadership positions within the military medical community in Canada, and his experience and expertise have vastly influenced combat medical training. Lieutenant-Colonel Talbot’s leadership, skill and dedication helped save countless lives.

Mr. Tom Quinn, from Beaconsfield, Quebec, was presented with the Caring Canadian Award.

Known as a passionate and tireless volunteer, Tom Quinn has been the president of the board of directors of the Canada Games Council since 2009, and a member since 2006. Under his watch, the Canada Games have become a source of inspiration for young athletes from across the country as well as a proving ground for the next generation of international competitors. Mr. Quinn is also actively involved with the Quebec Society for Disabled Children.

Mr. Stephen Kakfwi, from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, received the 2012 Northern Medal.

In 2005, the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, then governor general of Canada, created the Governor General’s Northern Medal, a medallion to be awarded annually to citizens whose actions and achievements have contributed to the evolution and constant reaffirmation of the Canadian North as part of our national identity.

"All of you—recipients of Bravery and Meritorious Service decorations, of the Caring Canadian Award and the Northern Medal—come from diverse backgrounds," stated His Excellency. "You have differing skills and talents and are being honoured here for a variety of reasons. Some of you for a lifetime of service, others for a single moment of heroism. Today, it is that very diversity that unites you."