CITATIONS
David H. R. Byrd, M.B., Belleville, Ontario
Michael D. Byrd, M.B., Belleville, Ontario
Corporal Gabriel Proulx, M.B., Belleville, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On June 8, 2008, David Byrd, Michael Byrd and Corporal Gabriel Proulx, then private, rescued three people from a burning vehicle, near Napanee, Ontario. After witnessing an accident that caused one of the vehicles to immediately burst into flames, they hurried to the vehicle and pulled a teenaged boy through the car’s back passenger window. As the interior became fully engulfed in flames, the rescuers then hauled a woman to safety. Battling the heat, flames and smoke, they finally extracted the driver just as the gas tank ignited. Sadly, the driver succumbed to his injuries a few weeks later.
Thomas James Dodd, M.B. (posthumous), Chilliwack, British Columbia
Medal of Bravery
On June 29, 2006, brakeman Tom Dodd lost his life trying to help two of his co-workers escape from a train that was speeding uncontrollably down a mountain track, in Lillooet, British Columbia. All three men were in the locomotive when its brakes failed as it was speeding towards a sharp curve. Mr. Dodd climbed onto the lumber car behind the engine and made his way to the wagon’s manual brake. As the train rounded the curve, the lumber car broke away from the locomotive and plunged down the steep slope. The engine then derailed and went over the embankment. The engineer was the sole survivor.
Robert Edward Dorie, M.B., Long Creek, New Brunswick
Medal of Bravery
On July 23, 2006, Robert Dorie risked his life to capture an armed robber, in Sussex, New Brunswick. Mr. Dorie had noticed several people running frantically out of a pub and ran to the scene. He was confronted by an individual wearing a disguise and wielding a shotgun. The suspect ordered Mr. Dorie to move away, which he did. From a distance, Mr. Dorie looked back and saw the suspect fleeing on a bicycle. Mr. Dorie ran to his vehicle and pursued the suspect, sideswiping the bicycle. He then jumped out of his car and, after a brief struggle, subdued the suspect until police arrived.
Robin Fabiani, M.B., Montréal, Quebec
Medal of Bravery
On June 9, 2008, Robin Fabiani rescued a man from a possible drowning during a scuba diving incident, off the island of San Salvador, in the Bahamas. The diver was having difficulty breathing and was unable to reach the surface on his own. Mr. Fabiani, who was the diving master during this excursion, noticed the struggling man and immediately dove from the boat to reach his side. He grabbed the panicked victim who kept trying to pull him under. With great difficulty, Mr. Fabiani succeeded in bringing him back to the boat some 13 metres away, where others helped pull the now-unconscious man aboard. The victim was revived and taken to the hospital.
Constable Michael Verney Gallant, M.B., Windsor, Ontario
Constable Phillip Kolody, M.B., Windsor, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On June 17, 2008, constables Michael Gallant and Phillip Kolody, of the Windsor Police Service, rescued four people from a burning house, in Windsor, Ontario. On patrol in the area, the constables noticed the burning house. Once inside the dwelling, they located and woke the victims up. The constables evacuated the family, and returned inside to search for other possible individuals trapped inside. In spite of the flames, the intense heat and the thick black smoke they ensured that no one else was inside, before evacuating nearby homes.
Doug Knill, M.B., Scotland, Ontario
Samantha-Joe Larose, M.B., Noëlleville, Ontario
Bruce Lavallee, M.B., Alban, Ontario
Daniel White, M.B., Paris, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On February 2, 2008, Samantha-Joe Larose, Doug Knill, Bruce Lavallee and Daniel White rescued a man after his snowmobile had gone through the ice on Lake Nipissing, Ontario. Ms. Larose and a friend were returning from an ice-fishing trip when they lost sight of the marked trail and ended up in open water. Ms. Larose climbed back onto solid ice, but fell in three more times trying to pull her friend out. Although numbed by the cold, she managed to get out again and waved down Messrs. Knill, Lavallee and White. Working as a team, the men made their way to the hole and pulled the victim onto thicker ice. They then drove the man and Ms. Larose to a nearby house to wait for an ambulance.
Donald Morrison, M.B., Dutch Valley, New Brunswick
Medal of Bravery
On May 24, 2008, Donald Morrison rescued an injured pilot after their helicopter crashed in a remote location near Norman Wells, in the Northwest Territories. After the impact, Mr. Morrison, who was in the front passenger seat, managed to kick out the windscreen and jumped out into the burning fuel that covered the ground. Despite the heat and flames, he reached into the smoke-filled wreckage and removed the pilot. He dragged her to safety just moments before the flames engulfed the whole aircraft, making it impossible to rescue the back-seat passenger. Another helicopter soon arrived and brought the survivors to a medical centre, where they were treated for their injuries.
Marc Patterson, M.B., Kamloops, British Columbia
Medal of Bravery
On August 1, 2007, Marc Patterson wrestled a cougar that had attacked a 12-year-old boy during a camping trip, near Clinton, British Columbia. The youth had been walking alone, a few metres from the cabin, when a cougar jumped on him. Mr. Patterson ran to the child’s aid, kicked the cat numerous times, and strangled it until it released the wounded boy. The rescuer then proceeded to tackle the cougar before it slithered out of his grip and turned on him. Unperturbed, Mr. Patterson once again confronted the animal, which eventually retreated. The boy was then airlifted to a hospital, where he was treated for his injuries.
Stuart Pringle, M.B., Chesterville, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On July 19, 2005, Stuart Pringle rescued an elderly woman who was trapped in a burning basement, in Chesterville, Ontario. A container of gas had spilled onto the basement floor, and the resulting fumes made contact with the pilot light of the furnace and ignited. Mr. Pringle, who lives a few houses away, noticed black smoke coming from the house, and ran to assist. Looking down the basement stairs through the door, he saw a huge ball of fire. He doused the flames using a garden hose, before making his way downstairs. Impaired by the dark, heavy smoke, he had difficulty locating the victim. When he finally found her, he brought the badly burned woman to safety. Sadly, the victim did not survive.
Francis Quevillon, M.B., Laval, Quebec
Medal of Bravery
On October 28, 2007, Francis Quevillon risked his life to disarm an emotionally disturbed woman who intended to harm a baby in his care, in Pierrefonds, Quebec. Mr. Quevillon and his girlfriend were babysitting for friends when an enraged woman forced her way into the house and pointed a gun and a hunting knife at the couple, demanding the baby. Mr. Quevillon confronted the woman and tried to disarm her, while his girlfriend called the police. After a violent struggle during which he was wounded, Mr. Quevillon was able to retrieve the weapons and prevent the woman from escaping before the police arrived.
Constable Dale George Sleightholme, M.B., Victoria, British Columbia
Constable Paul Allan Spencelayh, M.B., Victoria, British Columbia
Medal of Bravery
On July 24, 2007, Victoria Police constables Dale Sleightholme and Paul Spencelayh rescued a suicidal man from the freezing waters of the Pacific Ocean, in Victoria, British Columbia. The constables scaled down a 13-metre cliff and jumped into the cold water. Fighting to stay afloat in the waves and strong current, they swam out 10 metres to reach the victim’s side. Expecting the individual to resist, the officers carefully approached and circled the man before bringing him to shore.
Mike André Toupin, M.B., Miramichi, New Brunswick
Medal of Bravery
On June 20, 2008, Mike Toupin jumped onto a moving tractor-trailer to save its incapacitated driver, in Miramichi, New Brunswick. The driver, who had suffered a heart attack, was slumped over the wheel as his truck went off the road and through a field. Advised that the out-of-control vehicle was heading towards the highway, Mr. Toupin ran up to the tractor-trailer and jumped onto the step of the driver’s side of the cab. He opened the door, reached across the victim, pulled the brake lever, and turned off the ignition. With the help of another man, Mr. Toupin then dragged the victim to the ground and began CPR. The paramedics arrived shortly after, and were able to revive the individual.
The Bravery Decorations were created in 1972. They recognize people who risk their lives and choose to defy their own instinct of survival to try to save a loved one or a perfect stranger whose life is in immediate danger.
The three levels of Decorations for Bravery reflect the degree to which the recipients put themselves at risk:
The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.
The Star of Courage (S.C.), recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril.
The Medal of Bravery (M.B.), recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
ELIGIBILITY AND NOMINATION
Anyone is free to propose the name of a person who has risked injury or death in an attempt to rescue another person. The incident need not have taken place in Canada, and the rescuer need not be Canadian, but Canadians or Canadian interests must be involved. The Decorations may be awarded posthumously.
Nominations must be made within two years of the incident, or within two years after a public entity, including a court, a quasi-judicial tribunal or a coroner, has concluded its review of the circumstances surrounding the incident or act of bravery.
For more information on the Bravery Decorations and on the recipients of these awards, please visit www.gg.ca/document.aspx?id=73.
