Presentation of Decorations for Bravery

Created in 1972, Decorations for Bravery recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect the lives of others. The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

Claude Veilleux, Medal of Bravery: On June 20, 2011, Claude Veilleux rescued a teenage girl who was on the verge of drowning, in Beauceville, Quebec. Three friends were swimming in the cold waters of the Chaudière River when they were suddenly swept away by the current. With a great deal of effort, two of them managed to struggle back to shore. Alerted by witnesses, Mr. Veilleux stopped and made his way down the steep slope to the river. He swam against the strong current to reach the other young victim, who, clinging to a branch, kept sinking below the surface and coming up again. Mr. Veilleux told the girl to let go of the branch; then, exhausted though he was, he managed to swim over and bring her back to shore, where others came to their assistance.

Elijah Ashton Rumleski-Boisvert, Medal of Bravery: On June 10, 2011, Elijah Rumleski-Boisvert, only 10 years old at the time, rescued his uncle from a possible drowning in the Frederick House River, in Connaught, Ontario. Elijah, his sister and their uncle had been fishing at the river’s edge when the uncle suffered a dizzy spell. He hit his head on some rocks and fell face-down into the water, where the current carried him several metres away from the shore. Elijah, who did not know how to swim, waded waist-deep into the cold water to reach the man’s side. He grabbed his uncle’s hand, and started to drag him out of the water as others arrived to help. The victim was taken to the hospital and released a few days later.

Steven Douglas McLavish, Medal of Bravery: On February 19, 2011, Steven McLavish pulled a man from a burning vehicle, on Highway 21, near Armena, Alberta. Mr. McLavish had stopped at the scene of two vehicles on fire following a head-on collision between a minivan and a transport truck. Through the thick, black smoke, he saw the driver of the truck frantically trying to get out, as the flames filled the inside of the vehicle. Despite the overwhelming heat and smoke, Mr. McLavish tried unsuccessfully to break the window. After struggling with the mangled passenger side door, he finally managed to open it. The victim jumped out and both men ran a safe distance away. Sadly, the driver of the smaller vehicle did not survive.

Len MacIntyre, Medal of Bravery: On August 9, 2009, Len MacIntyre rescued a woman from a burning second-floor apartment, in Florence, Nova Scotia. Mr. MacIntyre had been driving by when he saw the flames and stopped to help. He ran up the outside stairs and, peering through a window, saw the woman standing outside her kitchen, which was on fire. Mr. MacIntyre grabbed a quilt that was hanging on the railing and ran inside. He used the quilt to shield the victim from the flames and pulled her outside, restraining her as she kept trying to get back inside her apartment. He then ran to alert the other occupants of the building, while another person arrived to help the victim.

The Governor General presented 3 Stars of Courage and 39 Medals of Bravery at a ceremony at Rideau Hall on December 5, 2013.

Constable Lane Ashley Douglas-Hunt, Medal of Bravery: On January 17, 2011, Constable Lane Douglas-Hunt risked her life to protect citizens from a man armed with a knife, in Victoria, British Columbia. Leaving a store after responding to an unrelated complaint, Constable Douglas-Hunt held the door open for a man to enter. The man suddenly reached out and stabbed her in the neck with a knife. She grabbed him, but as he quickly escalated his assault on her, they fell out onto the sidewalk. While struggling to subdue her attacker, Constable Douglas-Hunt positioned herself to protect the onlookers around them. Only when the knife fell out of the man’s reach did she permit anyone to approach and help her restrain him until police arrived.

Constable Jeff Smiley, Star of Courage; and Corporal Dwight Doyle, Constable Joel Edward Fraser and Constable Samantha McInnis, Medal of Bravery: On January 8, 2012, Fredericton Police Corporal Dwight Doyle and constables Shawn Fraser, Samantha McInnis and Jeff Smiley rescued an elderly woman from a vehicle submerged in the Saint John River, in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The police officers had ventured out onto the unstable ice to reach the car, which was several metres from shore. Tethered by a rope, Constable Smiley put on a life jacket and jumped into the frigid water. He made his way to the vehicle, broke the window and pulled the unconscious victim out. He brought her to the edge of the ice, where the other officers helped pull them both out. Constables Fraser and McInnis fell through the ice several times while trying to resuscitate the woman. When she began to breathe on her own, Corporal Doyle helped them bring the woman to safety.

Nicole Louise Foran, Star of Courage: On April 19, 2009, flight attendants Nicole Foran (pictured) and Carolina Santizo Arriola were instrumental in the safe release of passengers during a hijacking at the Montego Bay airport, in Jamaica. A gunman, who had pushed his way onto the plane during boarding, forced the pilot down the loading ramp and fired a shot at him. Although threatened by the gunman, Mrs. Santizo Arriola suggested that he release the passengers in exchange for money. He agreed, and the passengers were allowed to leave after dropping money into bags. Over the next several hours, Mrs. Foran and Mrs. Santizo Arriola tried to calm the gunman as he threatened the crew, demanding that the plane take off. A Jamaican anti-terrorist squad finally stormed the aircraft and, taking advantage of this distraction, Mrs. Foran grabbed the gun from the hijacker’s hand and held it away from him. Mrs. Foran and Mrs. Santizo Arriola showed great courage during this highly volatile situation.

"Each of you being honoured here today has done something remarkable," said His Excellency. "You saw someone in trouble and you helped, risking injury and your own lives in the process. In some cases, sadly, it did not turn out as we all wish it had. We mourn those who cannot be here, while at the same time remembering their devotion to others."

Following the presentation, all who were present warmly applauded the recipients.