December 20, 2004 OTTAWA — Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, announced today the awarding of two Stars of Courage and 19 Medals of Bravery for acts of heroism. Recipients will be invited to accept their decorations at a ceremony to be held at a later date. On the recommendation of the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee (Bravery), the Governor General has announced the following awards: Decorations for Bravery RCMP Staff Sergeant Joseph Marcel Normand Boucher, M.B. Manotick, Ont. Jennifer Clarkson, M.B. Calgary, Alta. Travis Clarkson, M.B. Calgary, Alta. Germain Couture, M.B. Rouyn-Noranda, Que. Edward James Forster, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Daniel John Aron Francis, M.B. Truro, N.S. Master-Corporal Jason Cory Hamilton, S.C. Trenton, Ont. Gerald Kers, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Norman Wilson Leppan, M.B. North Bay, Ont. Andrew James Lowe, M.B. Stayner, Ont. James Edwin Lowe, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Corporal Danny Joseph Matthews, S.C. Pembroke, Ont. Mark Paul McKean, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Robert Keith McKean, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Kathleen Anne Merrylees, M.B. Sault Ste Marie, Ont. Murray Micks, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Michael William Payne, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Derek Sheard, M.B. Stayner, Ont. Denise Sheppard, M.B. Mindemoya, Ont. Sean Edward Spragg, M.B. Meaford, Ont. Leslie (Les) Staniowski, M.B., (Posthumous) North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. The citations for the recipients follow. The Decorations for Bravery—the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage and the Medal of Bravery—were established in 1972 as part of the Canadian Honours System. The Cross of Valour is awarded for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. The Star of Courage is awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. The Medal of Bravery is awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. -30- Media information Rideau Hall Press Office (613) 998-0287 www.gg.ca Public information The Chancellery of Honours (613) 993-2569 or 1 800 465-6890 For more information on the Canadian Honours System, please visit the Governor General's web site at www.gg.ca. CITATIONS Master-Corporal Jason Cory Hamilton, S.C., Trenton, Ontario Corporal Danny Joseph Matthews, S.C., Pembroke, Ontario Star of Courage On October 2, 2003, after their convoy's lead vehicle had struck an anti-tank mine, MCpl Jason Hamilton and Cpl Daniel Matthews entered an undefined minefield to recover three of their stricken comrades, near Kabul, Afghanistan. Despite the imminent danger of exploding ammunition and grenades complicating an already chaotic scene, MCpl Hamilton courageously led the rescue party, prodding the ground in front of him for more mines. He and Cpl Matthews worked their way onto the dangerous terrain until they reached the first fallen soldier. While Cpl Matthews escorted the wounded victim back to safety to administer first aid, MCpl Hamilton advanced farther into the minefield only to discover that the mine blast had claimed the lives of the two other soldiers. RCMP Staff Sergeant Joseph Marcel Normand Boucher, M.B., Manotick, Ontario Medal of Bravery On January 12, 2003, S/Sgt. Normand Boucher rescued a man and a woman after their snowmobile broke through the ice of the Rideau River in Manotick, Ontario. Alerted by the victims' cries for help, Mr. Boucher grabbed a ladder and ran to the river. Crawling on the ladder he had placed on the thin ice, Mr. Boucher made his way to the frantic victims. He managed to pull the woman from the water and drag her to shore. He then returned to the hole and, although numb from lying in several inches of freezing water, made numerous attempts to remove the man from the icy river. Despite the ladder sliding farther into the water as the ice started to give way, Mr. Boucher held onto the victim until others arrived with a rope and pulled them to safety. Regrettably, the man did not survive the ordeal. Jennifer Clarkson, M.B., Calgary, Alberta Travis Clarkson, M.B., Calgary, Alberta Medal of Bravery On January 28, 2004, Travis Clarkson and his sister Jennifer Clarkson teamed up to assist in the arrest of an armed man following a bank robbery, in Calgary, Alberta. When they witnessed the thief stealing a van from a pedestrian at gunpoint, the Clarksons pulled their truck behind the frantic burglar to prevent his escape. The suspect got out of his vehicle and pointed his gun directly at the Clarksons, ordering them to move away. After complying momentarily, they moved back behind him, foiling his plans. The gunman then got out of his van and fired shots in their direction. Despite bullets striking their truck, the Clarksons continued to follow the criminal through the parking lot to block off any possible escape route. Frustrated, the gunman was attempting to flee the scene on foot when the police arrived and apprehended him. Germain Couture, M.B., Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec Medal of Bravery On February 3, 2004, Germain Couture came to the aid of a co-worker following a mine explosion in Préissac, Quebec. Both men were busy loading explosives into blast holes inside the mine, some 200 metres underground, when an explosion occurred. Despite the toxic debris and gas generated by the powerful blast, Mr. Couture did not hesitate to assist his injured co-worker, guiding him towards the only exit and to safety, outside the mine. Edward James Forster, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Gerald Kers, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Andrew James Lowe, M.B., Stayner, Ontario James Edwin Lowe, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Mark Paul McKean, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Robert Keith McKean, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Murray Micks, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Michael William Payne, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Derek Sheard, M.B., Stayner, Ontario Sean Edward Spragg, M.B., Meaford, Ontario Medal of Bravery On December 30, 2002, a team of 10 people rescued a teenager who was trapped under a collapsed wall during renovations being made to a century-old home, in Stayner, Ontario. Although aware of the risk of the two-storey structure completely collapsing, the crew entered the building and using minimal temporary bracing, secured the remaining walls. Through rocks and bricks obstructing their way, they managed to reach the young victim, pinned under a pile of rubble at the bottom of the basement stairs. Using their bare hands and makeshift tools, the team laboured for 40 minutes in the dusty and unsafe environment, removing the concrete piece by piece, to free the severely-injured teenager from his precarious position and to bring him to safety. Daniel John Aron Francis, M.B., Truro, Nova Scotia Medal of Bravery On April 21, 2002, Daniel Francis risked his life to rescue an 11-year-old neighbour from her burning mobile home in Millbrook, Nova Scotia. With his leg in a cast as a result of a fracture, Mr. Francis hobbled over as fast as he could on crutches when he heard his neighbours' scream for help. Undaunted by the thick, acrid smoke and flames licking the kitchen walls and ceiling, he went into the house in an attempt to find the missing girl. He instantly got a lungful of smoke and had to retreat to catch his breath. Without hesitation, he then re-entered the dwelling and crawled along the hallway until he felt the victim's arm. He grabbed the girl and pulled her outside to safety, minutes before the fire completely destroyed the mobile home. Norman Wilson Leppan, M.B., North Bay, Ontario Kathleen Anne Merrylees, M.B., Sault Ste Marie, Ontario Denise Sheppard, M.B., Mindemoya, Ontario Medal of Bravery On June 19, 2003, Norman Leppan, Kathleen Merrylees and Denise Sheppard rescued a man trapped inside a burning vehicle, on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. First to arrive on the scene, Mr. Leppan waved down Ms. Sheppard and Ms. Merrylees, who rushed to help the seriously injured driver crushed between the steering wheel and the seat. Undaunted by the flames spreading from the station wagon to surrounding trees, Mr. Leppan cut the seat belt while Ms. Sheppard, kneeling on the front passenger seat, struggled to release it. In the meantime, Ms. Merrylees, who had climbed into the back seat, grabbed the victim under the arms in an effort to pull him towards the passenger side of the vehicle. In spite of the flames coming through the windshield, the trio then managed to pull the victim out of the vehicle and drag him a safe distance away. Leslie (Les) Staniowski, M.B., (Posthumous), North Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. Medal of Bravery On April 1, 2004, Leslie Staniowski lost his life while trying to stop a disgruntled patron from shooting a bartender in a Las Vegas casino, in Nevada, U.S.A. Sitting next to the gunman when the shooting started, Mr. Staniowski attempted, in vain, to disarm him. He then tackled the assailant who was trying to flee and wrestled him to the floor. During the ensuing struggle, Mr. Staniowski sustained a fatal gun shot wound to the chest and the aggressor broke free from his grip. The violent man was finally overpowered and arrested by police. Thanks to Mr. Staniowski's valiant efforts, the bartender survived the vicious attack.
