Honours Ceremonies at the Citadelle of Québec

The Governor General presented the Order at the Member level to Assistant Commissioner Brenda Butterworth-Carr, M.O.M., Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Regina, Saskatchewan.

An Order of Merit of the Police Forces investiture ceremony was held in the afternoon. The Order was created in 2000, to recognize conspicuous merit and exceptional service by members and employees of Canadian police forces whose contributions extend beyond protection of the community.

Chief Mark Saunders, O.O.M., of the Toronto Police Service was among the 31 recipients who were invested of the Order.

The Governor General presented the Medal of Bravery to 10 police officers from the Sûreté du Québec. On January 23, 2014, the police officers risked their lives to rescue senior citizens who were trapped by flames during a fire at the Résidence du Havre nursing home in L’Isle-Verte, Quebec. Without any equipment, the officers braved both the extreme cold weather outside, and the heat and toxic smoke filling the hallways inside the three-storey building. They acted quickly as the fire spread, with some victims trapped in their rooms or on their balconies. Sadly, despite the rescuers’ best efforts, 32 people lost their lives in the fire.

During the morning ceremony, the Governor General presented the following honours: the Order of Merit of the Police Forces; the Meritorious Service Decorations (Military Division); the Decorations for Bravery; and the Polar Medal.

The Governor General presented honours to 65 Canadians in recognition of their extraordinary dedication, achievements or bravery, during two ceremonies held at the Citadelle of Québec. The first ceremony was held in the morning, and the second in the afternoon.

"All of you are here because of your contributions to our country and to its future," said His Excellenct. "Because of your service. Your keen sense of duty. Your bravery. Your curiosity and your discovery in the North. This is what the Canadian Honours System does. It finds the very best of us, those of you who have given back to our country in many different ways, and shines a light on your success."

The Governor General presented the Polar Medal to Jonathan Moore, of Ottawa, Ontario. As a senior underwater archaeologist and sonar operator, Mr. Moore helped to unlock the mysteries of the lost Franklin Expedition. He spent six field seasons between 2008 and 2014 searching the Arctic Ocean for the wreck of HMS Erebus, and was part of the Parks Canada team that discovered and dived on the shipwreck in September 2014.

The Governor General presented the Polar Medal to Marc-André Bernier, of Ottawa, Ontario. Chief of the Parks Canada Underwater Archaeology Service, Mr. Bernier has worked on and directed many shipwreck excavation projects in Canada and abroad. As a senior project coordinator, he has researched the HMS Erebus archaeological site under the ice in the Arctic Ocean. He and his team documented the famed flagship of the lost Franklin Expedition with extraordinary photos and videos.

The Governor General presented the Medal of Bravery to Junior Larochelle, M.B. and Steven Larochelle, M.B. On January 3, 2012, Junior Larochelle and Steven Larochelle rescued a man whose ATV had broken through the ice of Petit lac Long, in Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur-de-Wolfestown, Quebec. The two brothers rushed to the victim who was clinging to the edge of the ice in his heavy, waterlogged clothing. They lay down on the fragile surface and, working as a human chain, pulled the man out of the water.

The Governor General presented the Medal of Bravery to Constable Robert John Hunka, M.B. On January 16, 2014, Constable Robert Hunka, of the Truro Police Service, rescued an elderly woman from a burning building in Truro, Nova Scotia. Without a mask or any protective equipment, Constable Hunka entered the apartment, which was filled with thick, black smoke. He felt his way along the walls until he located the victim in a bedroom and then carried her outside the apartment building to safety.

The Governor General presented the Medal of Bravery to Charles-Antoine Desautels, M.B. and Simon Lalonde, M.B. On October 24, 2013, Charles-Antoine Desautels and Simon Lalonde rescued a female co-worker who had fallen from a footbridge into the St. Lawrence River, in Sept-Îles, Quebec. The workers were leaving their construction site when the woman fell four metres into the freezing water. Her safety vest did not deploy and she began to sink under water. Without any thought for their own safety, Messrs. Desautels and Lalonde jumped from the footbridge, pulled the victim to the surface, and towed her back to the dock where others were able to help them get out of the water.

The Governor General presented the Medal of Bravery to Rémy Bouchard, M.B., Alain Gravel, M.B., and Mathieu Gravel, M.B. On June 21, 2011, Rémy Bouchard, assisted by firefighters Alain Gravel and Mathieu Gravel, rescued Mr. Bouchard’s daughter from their burning house in Baie-Saint-Paul, Quebec. Thick smoke was filling up the house as Mr. Bouchard kicked open the locked door to his daughter’s room. He pulled the unconscious victim towards the staircase, where he collapsed. Without any protective gear or masks, the two firefighters ran into the house to reach the victims. They carried the girl outside while leading Mr. Bouchard to safety. Sadly, the young victim later succumbed to her injuries.

The Governor General presented the Meritorious Service Medal (Military Division) to Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Bernard Voyer, O.C., C.Q., M.S.M. Since his appointment to 2nd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group in June 2008, Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Voyer has been an outstanding ambassador for the Canadian Armed Forces. He has demonstrated tireless support for and dedication to the Canadian Rangers and Junior Canadian Rangers, taking every opportunity to promote youth development in northern communities and organizing a number of large-scale expeditions.

The Governor General presented the Meritorious Service Cross (Military Division) to Sergeant Terrence Gregory Grandy, M.S.C., C.D. On September 20, 2011, search and rescue technician Sergeant Grandy successfully evacuated three Belgian sailors from a damaged vessel during a severe storm in the Atlantic Ocean. Lowered from the Rescue 908 helicopter onto the vessel, Sergeant Grady was able to keep the rescue basket under control during the hoisting operation despite the gusting winds and high sea swells. Sergeant Grandy’s tenacity as well as his professionalism under difficult environmental conditions brought great credit to himself, to the Royal Canadian Air Force and to Canada

The Governor General presented the Order at the Member level to Chief Paul E. Pedersen, M.O.M., Greater Sudbury Police Service, Ontario.

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson spoke during the afternoon ceremony.