Presentation of Decorations for Bravery

Governor General David Johnston presented 40 Medals of Bravery at a ceremony at Rideau Hall, on March 6, 2015. "None of you would call yourself a hero," said His Excellency. "You were simply going about your daily routine when you were suddenly faced with an extreme situation. You did what you knew had to be done. You did the extraordinary. I am so inspired by your courage, by your willingness to risk your own safety to help someone in desperate need." Created in 1972, Decorations for Bravery recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect the lives of others. The Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

On the stormy night of August 29, 2011, Marcel Cormier, M.B. (Gaspé and Matane, Quebec) and Paul Dallaire, M.B. (La Malbaie and Saint-Romuald, Quebec) rescued two men from a burning vehicle in Baie-des-Rochers, Quebec. The victims’ car had crashed into a large sink hole and caught fire. In spite of the heavy rainfall, strong winds and deteriorating roadway, Messrs. Cormier and Dallaire pulled the two victims out to safety before the flames completely engulfed the car.

On November 6, 2012, Michel Joseph Fecteau, M.B. and Kyle D. Simpson, M.B. (Larder Lake, Ontario) rescued two men whose boat had overturned on Lake Wendigo, near Englehart, Ontario. Messrs. Fecteau and Simpson made their way through strong rapids to reach the victims. With the weight of the men’s wet clothing threatening to topple their small rescue boat, Messrs. Fecteau and Simpson successfully pulled both men aboard and ferried them to a nearby landing.

On April 27, 2012, brothers Franklyn Patrick Fraser, S.C., M.B. and Romey Francis Gerald Fraser, M.B. (Alberton, Prince Edward Island) rescued a man from a burning house in Northport, Prince Edward Island. At the risk of being trapped inside the unstable structure, they entered the fully engulfed house, searched through the heavy smoke to find the victim and carried him outside to safety.

On March 13, 2011, William Dennis Ward, M.B. (Calgary, Alberta) and helicopter pilot James Patrick Kitchen, M.B. (Squamish, British Columbia) rescued two Inuit hunters who had fallen through the ice near Frobisher Bay, Nunavut. While Mr. Kitchen (pictured) skilfully kept his helicopter hovering over the water, Mr. Ward reached down to rescue the two victims, pulling them into the helicopter one after the other, all while battling the unforgiving Arctic winds. The decoration awarded to Mr. Ward was presented at a previous ceremony.

On November 25, 2012, Peter Richard Moody, M.B. (Kimberley, British Columbia) risked his life to protect his wife who was being attacked by a bear in Kimberley, British Columbia. The couple was hiking in a wooded area when they encountered the grizzly, which attacked the woman and pinned her to the ground. Using a ski pole as a weapon, Mr. Moody diverted the bear’s attention, even after having been attacked himself. The couple remained motionless to convince the bear they were no threat. After the bear left the area, the severely injured couple managed to walk to a nearby house where they found help.

On July 11, 2011, Courtney Gail Porter, M.B. (Newmarket, Ontario) and James Christopher Daniel Slatcher, M.B. (Keswick, Ontario) evacuated several residents from a burning apartment complex in Georgina, Ontario. When they saw smoke coming from the three-story building, the two friends ran inside to alert and help other occupants escape as flames quickly consumed the ceiling above the top-floor apartments. Thanks to the quick and selfless actions of Ms. Porter and Mr. Slatcher, all the residents of the 36-unit building survived.

On February 5, 2012, Fred St-Pierre, M.B. (Ottawa, Ontario and Otter Lake, Quebec) rescued his brother from their burning house in Otter Lake, Quebec. Mr. St-Pierre entered the smoke-filled residence and found his brother lying unconscious on the floor but was forced to retreat to get air. Undeterred, Mr. St-Pierre re-entered the house and dragged the victim out of the blaze moments before the house was fully engulfed in flames.