Toronto, Ont.
Gatineau and Granby, Que.
Sherbrooke, Que.
Matagami, Que.
Repentigny, Que.
Saint-Valentin, Que.
Ottawa, Ont.
Sioux Lookout, Ont.
Morden and Berwick, N.S.
Wolfe Island, Ont.
OPP Sergeant M. Adam W. Illman , M.B.
Montréal, Que.
Victoria, B.C.
Mississauga, Ont.
Pembroke, Ont.
Pembroke, Ont.
St. Pascal-Baylon, Ont.
Thunder Bay, Ont.
Nanaimo, B.C.
George's River, N.S.
Mississauga, Ont.
Regina, Sask.
Sioux Lookout, Ont.
Ingersoll, Ont.
Winnipeg, Man.
Burlington, Ont.
- 30 -
Media information
Marie-Paule Thorn / Rideau Hall Press Office
613-993-2569 / Cell. 613-301-2764 / www.gg.ca / www.citizenvoices.gg.ca
Stanley Anglin, M.B., Toronto, Ontario
Sergeant Lawrence James Zimmerman, M.B., Burlington, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On April 14, 2005, Stanley Anglin and Sergeant Larry Zimmerman risked their lives to remove a woman and her 18-month-old baby from a burning apartment, in Toronto, Ontario. When he noticed smoke, Mr. Anglin raced up the fire escape and entered the victim's apartment. He found the disoriented woman, whose clothes were on fire, in the kitchen, and attempted to drag her outside. Assisted by Sergeant Zimmerman, who had arrived at the scene, he pulled her to safety. Taking turns, both rescuers then re-entered the dwelling in an attempt to rescue the baby but were forced to abandon their efforts due to the heavy smoke. Firefighters managed to rescue the baby but sadly, the mother died of her injuries two days later.
Petty Officer 1st class Alain Baillargeon, M.B., C.D. (deceased), Gatineau and Granby, Quebec
Martin Baillargeon, M.B., Sherbrooke, Quebec
Marco Bédard, M.B., Matagami, Quebec
Medal of Bravery
On December 27, 2006, during a hunting trip at reservoir Laforge, in James Bay, Quebec, these three men rescued their traveling companion twice from drowning after their snowmobiles broke through the ice. The late Petty Officer 1st class Alain Baillargeon was the first to get back onto the thin surface, and held onto the victim until Mr. Bédard arrived with a rope to help pull her to safety. Moments later, the woman found herself in the water again, this time with Mr. Bédard, when the snowmobile they were travelling on broke through the ice. Mr. Bédard crawled onto the ice on his own and held onto the woman until Martin Baillargeon arrived and assisted in pulling her out of the water. While Alain Baillargeon, Marco Bédard and the woman walked to the nearest shore to await rescue, Martin Baillargeon drove his snowmobile some 20 kilometres to get assistance, which arrived 90 minutes later.
Corporal Piotr Krzysztof Burcew, M.B., Repentigny, Quebec
Lieutenant Jason Edward Demaine, M.B., C.D., Ottawa, Ontario
Corporal Adrian Roman Markowski, M.B., Mississauga, Ontario
Corporal Stephen Louis Thomas, M.B., Mississauga, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On October 3, 2006, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, Corporal Piotr Burcew, Lieutenant Jason Demaine, Corporal Adrian Markowski and Corporal Stephen Thomas saved the lives of their fellow soldiers and local Afghan civilians by unloading ammunition from a disabled burning vehicle during a suicide bomber attack. Despite having to cross through flames, they repeatedly returned to the vehicle to retrieve mission-essential cargo and high-explosive ammunition that posed a deadly threat to those nearby. They moved away from the scene just moments before the fire raged out of control, detonating the remaining rounds.
Edith Chamberland, M.B., Saint-Valentin, Quebec
Medal of Bravery
On November 15, 2006, 15-year-old Edith Chamberland pulled a 10-year-old boy from the path of an oncoming out-of-control vehicle, in Saint-Paul-de-l'Île-aux-Noix, Quebec. After their handball practice, the boy had stepped out into the parking lot to await his ride home while Ms. Chamberland watched him from the gymnasium door. Suddenly, she noticed a car coming from around the corner at high speed, skidding towards them. She immediately ran outside and pulled the young boy, who was directly in the path of the vehicle, out of harm's way. Her spontaneous actions saved the boy's life.
OPP Constable Dennis Armand Desjardins, M.B., Sioux Lookout, Ontario
OPP Sergeant M. Adam W. Illman, M.B., Kenora, Ontario
Retired OPP Constable Gary Read, M.B., Thunder Bay, Ontario
OPP Constable Stephen Waite, M.B., Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On August 19, 2006, OPP Sergeant Adam Illman, constables Dennis Desjardins and Stephen Waite, as well as then constable Gary Read, rescued a man trapped in his burning car, near Sioux Lookout, Ontario. The officers encountered the flaming vehicle on its roof in a deep ditch. While constables Read and Waite attempted to extinguish the fire, Sergeant Illman and Constable Desjardins struggled to open the passenger door, which was embedded in the grass and mud. In spite of the intense flames, the four police officers managed to pull the unconscious and severely burned man from the wreck. They then dragged him to the shoulder of the road and remained with him until medical help arrived.
David George Hamilton, M.B., Morden and Berwick, Nova Scotia
Medal of Bravery
On August 22, 2005, David Hamilton rescued a woman who had become stranded on a rock by the rising tide off the Morden shore, near French Crossing, Nova Scotia. Late in the evening, Mr. Hamilton was called to assist with his boat to rescue the woman who had been spotted on a rock, some 30 metres off the beach. When he arrived at the scene, the tide had already sent her adrift. Estimating where the woman would have been taken by the current, Mr. Hamilton entered the water and swam towards her. Despite the total darkness and the heavy fog, he located the woman, some 200 metres from the beach. Reaching her side, he grabbed hold of her and, battling the strong surf and his own exhaustion, towed her back to shore, where emergency personnel waded in to assist.
John Brendan Haney, M.B., Wolfe Island, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On October 27, 2006, John Haney rescued a suicidal woman who had jumped from a ferry into the frigid waters of Lake Ontario, moments after it left the dock, in Kingston, Ontario. The crew attempted to throw life lines to the distraught woman, who was bobbing in the water some 10 metres away. Seeing that their efforts proved unsuccessful, Mr. Haney immediately grabbed a life vest, ran off the back of the deck and dove to the victim's rescue. Both rescuer and victim were then pulled to safety by the crew.
Richard Lemieux, M.B., Montréal, Quebec
Medal of Bravery
On April 30, 2005, off-duty firefighter Richard Lemieux risked his life to rescue a 16-year-old boy from a fiery death, in Montréal, Quebec. Awakened by the screams of the teenager, who was stranded on the balcony of his flaming apartment, Mr. Lemieux rushed to help, but was forced out by the intense flames. Undaunted, Mr. Lemieux ran to the apartment next door and sat on the ledge of a window. He then leaned outside backwards and, in this precarious position, coaxed the boy into leaping towards him. Mr. Lemieux then grabbed the victim by his clothing and pulled him into the room, to safety.
Captain Dennis Mann, M.B., Victoria, British Columbia
Medal of Bravery
On October 16, 2006, Captain Dennis Mann rescued a man from drowning, near Victoria, British Columbia. Upon realizing that the passenger had not resurfaced, Captain Mann immediately stopped the engine of the inflatable boat and dove to his rescue. He managed to partially free the victim, whose life vest had become caught in the boat's propeller. After performing underwater artificial respiration, Captain Mann freed the victim from his life vest and brought him back to the surface.
Deputy Chief John Andrew Mellon, M.B., Pembroke, Ontario
Constable Shawn Charles Piercey, M.B., Pembroke, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On November 11, 2006, Deputy Chief John Mellon and Constable Shawn Piercey, of the Pembroke City Police, rescued a suicidal man from drowning in the Muskrat River, in Pembroke, Ontario. Alerted to the scene, the officers observed the victim floating down the river, unresponsive to their calls. They immediately stripped off their duty equipment, dove into the deep, cold water and swam to reach the victim's side. They grabbed the unconscious man by his jacket and, fighting the strong current, towed him back to shore. They then carried him up a steep embankment and provided first aid until paramedics arrived.
Richard Plaisted, M.B., St. Pascal-Baylon, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On August 13, 2006, Richard Plaisted rescued a 17-year-old boy who was trapped in his burning vehicle following a crash on a deserted country road near Embrun, Ontario. Noticing the vehicle on fire, Mr. Plaisted ran to the scene, endangering his life as he crossed dangling live hydro wires. He reached inside the car and struggled in vain to undo the victim's seatbelt. He eventually grabbed the young man by the waist and pulled him out to safety.
Kevan Thomas Shaw, M.B., Nanaimo, British Columbia
Medal of Bravery
On November 2, 2006, Kevan Shaw assisted RCMP officers in the apprehension of a disturbed individual, in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Observing the man acting erratically, Mr. Shaw immediately called the police. Two RCMP officers arrived and quickly became involved in a violent physical confrontation with the man. With complete disregard for his own safety, Mr. Shaw joined in the struggle and, noticing that the out-of-control man was clutching an undetected knife, he grabbed his hand. Mr. Shaw then helped the officers subdue the man until back-up arrived.
Constable James John Sophocleous, M.B., George's River, Nova Scotia
Medal of Bravery
On July 6, 2005, Cape Breton Regional Police Constable James Sophocleous saved a family of six from a house fire, in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Alerted by a passerby, Constable Sophocleous rushed to the burning home. When the mother stated that her family was sleeping upstairs, he ran inside the house and, in spite of the raging flames, assisted everyone outside to safety. Seconds later, the residence was totally destroyed by the fire.
Tina Lee Trombley, M.B., Regina, Saskatchewan
Medal of Bravery
On July 17, 2005, Tina Trombley went to the aid of a man who was being beaten during an altercation at the closing of a night club, in Regina, Saskatchewan. Witness to the fight, Ms. Trombley managed to get in between the assailants and the unconscious victim, draping herself over top of him to shield him from further attacks. In the confusion that followed, a car driven by a fleeing assailant ran over both Ms. Trombley and the victim, dragging them a considerable distance until their bodies became dislodged from beneath the vehicle. While the victim was not seriously harmed, Ms. Trombley suffered serious injuries during the ordeal.
Ralph Edward Walker, M.B., Ingersoll, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On November 4, 2006, Ralph Walker rescued a man from a fiery death in Ingersoll, Ontario. Mr. Walker was going to visit a friend when he noticed smoke coming from the building's basement apartment. He quickly ran to the scene, where he found the unconscious man lying on the floor, just inside his smoke-filled apartment. Mr. Walker was able to drag him out into the hallway and to the bottom of the stairwell, where he was met by another resident of the building who helped carry the victim outside to safety.
David Wheesk, M.B., Winnipeg, Manitoba
Medal of Bravery
On November 30, 2004, David Wheesk saved a mother and her two children from a house fire in Fort Albany, Ontario. Mr. Wheesk raced to the burning residence and, once inside, started crawling under the thick smoke to find the occupants. Through the crackling of the flames, he heard a faint whimper in the living room and moved in that direction. Groping along, he felt a child's leg and pulled the youngster towards him. With his free hand extended through the smoke, he found the other child. While he carried them to safety, they told him that their mother was still inside. Mr. Wheesk returned into the blaze and, fighting off dizzy spells caused by the toxic smoke, he located the disoriented woman in the living room and brought her to safety.
