August 31, 2006
OTTAWA-Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, announced today the awarding of one Cross of Valour, one Star of Courage and seven Medals of Bravery.
The Cross of Valour, given for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril, is awarded to First Lieutenant Leslie Arthur Palmer, C.V., of the Canadian Coast Guard. Only 20 people have received this exceptional honour since its creation in 1972.
Recipients will be invited to receive their decorations at a ceremony to be held at Rideau Hall at a later date.
On the recommendation of the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee (Bravery), the Governor General has awarded Decorations for Bravery to the following recipients:
Cross of Valour
First Officer Leslie Arthur Palmer, C.V.,
Prince Rupert, B.C.
Star of Courage
Sergeant Steeve Joseph Carl Bédard, S.C., M.B.*, C.D. This is a second Decoration for Bravery awarded to Sgt Bédard.
Jonquière, Que.
Medal of Bravery
Guy Clairoux, M.B.
Ottawa, Ont.
Dean Willis Craig, M.B.
Nanaimo, B.C.
Christopher Alan Duggan, M.B. (posthumous)
Prospect, N.S.
RCMP Corporal Joseph Denis Laflamme, M.B.
Ottawa, , Ont.
Master-Corporal Michael Thomas Stanford, M.B., C.D.,
St. John's, N.L.
RCMP Constable Craig Andrew Thur, M.B.,
Whitehorse, Y.T.
Master-Corporal Daniel Joseph Gilles Villeneuve, M.B., C.D.,
Aylesford, N.S.
The citations for the recipients are attached.
The Decorations for 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.
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Media informationLucie BrosseauRideau Hall Press Office613-998-0287www.gg.ca
Public informationThe Chancellery of Honours613-993-2569 or 1-800-465-6890
Citations
First Officer Leslie Arthur Palmer, C.V., Prince Rupert, British ColumbiaCross of Valour
Late at night on December 27, 2004, First Officer Leslie Palmer, of the Canadian Coast Guard, braved a severe winter storm to rescue two fishermen stranded on the shores of the Grenville Channel, near Prince Rupert, British Columbia. Responding to the distress call, the Coast Guard vessel Point Henry arrived at destination in the worst of weather conditions and searched the shoreline for signs of victims. An hour later, spotting illumination flares set off by the vessel, the two survivors flashed a light in response to show their location. At the risk of perishing, First Officer Palmer got ashore using a small rubber boat but, hindered by the breaking surf on the beach and gusts of wind of up to a hundred knots, had to land half a kilometre from the survivors. Undeterred by the heavy shore spray freezing his eyelids shut and icing up the outer shell of his suit, he walked for an hour in hip-deep snow, struggling against sheer ice footing on a rocky shore, until he reached the two men huddled inside a life raft. Using a Kisby ring, the Point Henry crew transfered survival gear and medical equipment to the trio by carefully floating it to shore. First Officer Palmer valiantly made his way a second time to the beach, secured the equipment and returned to the barely responsive victims to administer first aid. He worked courageously to keep the two fishermen warm and alive as they waited on the beach for another four hours before medical help could reach them. By that time, they had lost all radio contact and had only a flashlight to use as a signal.
Sergeant Steeve Joseph Carl Bédard, S.C., M.B.*, C.D. Jonquière, QuebecStar of CourageMaster-Corporal Daniel Joseph Gilles Villeneuve, M.B., C.D., Aylesford, Nova ScotiaMedal of Bravery
On March 30, 2005, search and rescue technicians Sgt Steeve Bédard and MCpl Daniel Villeneuve rescued five seal hunters stranded in their disabled fishing vessel in the ocean near les Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. After several failed attempts to reach the crewmen on the vessel's deck due to severe weather, the two men decided to conduct individual hoist operations from the water. Braving dangerously high seas, massive ice chunks thrown about by the 30-foot swells and winds in excess of 50 knots, Sgt Bédard was hoisted down to retrieve a first crewman who had unexpectedly jumped into the water. The crewman was floundering dangerously close to the heavy outriggers that threatened to crash onto him. Before the victim could swim to Sgt Bédard, who was being swamped by the waves, the boat crew managed to pull him on board. As night fell, Sgt Bédard and MCpl Villeneuve performed several more hoists from the deadly waters under extremely hazardous conditions and successfully recovered the helpless sealers.
· This is a second Decoration for Bravery awarded to Sgt Bédard.
Guy Clairoux, M.B., Ottawa, OntarioMedal of Bravery
On February 24, 2005, in Ottawa, Ontario, Guy Clairoux rescued his two-year-old son who was being attacked by three pit bulls. Mr. Clairoux was walking with his son through a park when one of the dogs jumped over the fence of a neighbouring house and attacked the boy. Without hesitation, Mr. Clairoux confronted the ferocious animal and punched it on the head until he freed the toddler from the pit bull's jaws. Seconds later, two other dogs joined in the attack, inflicting serious injuries to the man and his child. Mr. Clairoux grabbed his son and pushed him toward his wife, who had witnessed the scene from nearby. He continued to wrestle with the enraged dogs, shielding his wife and son with his body, until neighbours arrived to help.
Dean Willis Craig, M.B., Nanaimo, British ColumbiaMedal of Bravery
On May 5, 2003, Dean Craig rescued a woman who was being attacked by an intruder in her residence of Nanaimo, British Columbia. Mr. Craig was working in a shop located in the victim's apartment building when he heard her cries for help. He rushed to the apartment and found the intruder assaulting the woman. Without hesitation, he tackled the assailant who was trying to flee, allowing the victim to run out of the apartment to call for help. In the violent struggle that ensued, the enraged attacker pulled a folding knife from his pocket and attempted to stab Mr. Craig. Alerted by the victim, a neighbour rushed to Mr. Craig's assistance. As both men held the suspect until the police arrived, he continued to struggle and to wave his weapon until he was taken into custody.
Christopher Alan Duggan, M.B. (posthumous), Prospect, Nova ScotiaMedal of Bravery
On September 3, 2005, 31-year-old Christopher Duggan lost his life while saving two children, aged 8 and 12, from drowning at Stoney Beach, in Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia. While playing off a sandbar, the boy and girl were suddenly swept into deeper waters by the treacherous current. Noting that the children had disappeared from sight, Mr. Duggan entered the high surf to search for them. After spotting the girl at a distance, he battled the strong riptide until he reached her side and helped her back to shore. Mr. Duggan re-entered the dangerous waters but lost his struggle with the fierce undertow before he could locate the boy, who was ultimately towed to safety by a kitesurfer.
RCMP Corporal Joseph Denis Laflamme, M.B., Ottawa, OntarioMedal of Bravery
On June 19, 2003, Cpl. Denis Laflamme prevented a man from taking his own life during a protest in Ottawa, Ontario. Cpl. Laflamme was monitoring the demonstration when he noticed a man carrying a gasoline container walking towards the group of protesters. The individual suddenly opened the canister and began pouring gasoline over his head and body, then reached into his pocket for a lighter. Cpl. Laflamme immediately rushed forward and wrestled with the man in an attempt to seize the lighter from his hands before he could set himself ablaze. Ignoring the imminent danger of fire as he was now completely soaked with fuel, Cpl. Laflamme managed to restrain the determined protester while a bystander pried the lighter from his hands.
Master-Corporal Michael Thomas Stanford, M.B., C.D., St. John's, NewfoundlandMedal of Bravery
On May 26, 2005, MCpl Michael Stanford rescued a man from a burning house at Canadian Forces Station St. John's in Newfoundland. Alerted to the fire, MCpl Stanford entered the house to look for occupants but was quickly forced out by the heavy smoke. Using a curtain to cover his mouth and nose, he re-entered the dwelling, where he heard the victim calling from upstairs, but the flames and choking fumes drove him out again. Undeterred, he went back inside and, shouting and banging his baton on the walls, instructed the victim to follow the noise. Through thick smoke, the man located MCpl Stanford at the bottom of the stairs, and both escaped to safety. In spite of the spreading fire, MCpl Stanford raced back inside several times to search for other occupants wrongly believed to be in the home.
RCMP Constable Craig Andrew Thur, M.B., Whitehorse, Yukon TerritoryMedal of Bravery
In the early hours of September 18, 2004, Cst. Craig Thur rescued an intoxicated youth who had wandered into a pond near Whitehorse, Yukon. While responding to a complaint of a noisy outdoor party, Cst. Thur heard a muffled gurgling sound coming from nearby. In complete darkness, he waded into the freezing swampy waters in an attempt to locate the source of the noise. From a distance, he spotted the young man who was struggling to stay afloat in deeper waters. Although weighted down by his uniform, Cst. Thur immediately swam in his direction. His efforts were hampered by overhanging bushes and dead tree stumps in the murky pond, but he finally reached the youth who was by then completely submerged. Cst. Thur grabbed hold of his jacket, lifted him to the surface and, although completely exhausted, swam back to shore with the young man in tow.
