Larry James Angasuk Jr., M.B.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
Constable Andrew Robert Aucoin, M.B.
Centreville, Nova Scotia and Norman Wells, Northwest Territories
Constable Todd Anton Ronald Glemser, M.B.
Clavet, Saskatchewan and Fort MacPherson, Northwest Territories
Teddy John Allen Omilgoituk, M.B.
Inuvik, Northwest Territories
On October 16, 2011, brothers Larry Angasuk Jr. and Teddy Omilgoituk, along with RCMP constables Andrew Aucoin and Todd Glemser, braved intense heat, smoke and flames to rescue two children from a burning house, in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Larry was able to bring one of the children to safety, but Teddy, trying to reach his little sister in an upstairs bedroom, became overwhelmed by the smoke and had to rush outside. Constables Aucoin and Glemser ran in and managed to bring out the child who, sadly, did not survive.
Sergeant Paul Charles Avanthay, M.B.
Little Grand Rapids, Manitoba
Constable Norbert Alexander Constant, M.B.
The Pas and Ashern, Manitoba
On October 28, 2009, RCMP Sergeant Paul Avanthay and Constable Norbert Constant rescued a suicidal woman who had jumped from a hydro dam into the Winnipeg River, in Powerview, Manitoba. Both men entered the freezing water and, wading against the powerful current, brought the woman to shore.
Kina Raven Beardy, M.B.
Cross Lake, Manitoba
On July 8, 2010, Kina Beardy risked her life to protect a woman who was being attacked by two other women, in Cross Lake, Manitoba. Only 10 years old at the time, Kina shielded the victim to protect her, forcing the assailants to stop their attack. Thanks to Kina’s efforts, the victim then managed to seek shelter at a neighbour’s house.
Kevin Samuel Carras, M.B.
Surrey and Abbotsford, British Columbia
On July 23, 2011, Kevin Carras rescued a friend who had become pinned by a log underwater during a tubing expedition on the Skagit River, in Hope, British Columbia. In spite of the strong current, Mr. Carras managed to free the victim from his precarious position and towed him to shore.
Constable Kevin Carroll, M.B.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Constable James Arthur Elvish, M.B.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Constable Clark McKever, M.B.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Constable Kenneth Ogima, M.B.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Constable Jason Rybak, M.B.
Thunder Bay, Ontario
On May 26, 2010, Thunder Bay Police constables Kevin Carroll, James Elvish, Clark McKever, Kenneth Ogima and Jason Rybak rescued a woman from a submerged vehicle, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Despite the low visibility, they located the wreck as it sank into Lake Superior, smashed out the windows and pulled the victim to safety.
Sheldon Charles Catholique, M.B.
Lutsel K’e, Northwest Territories
On October 4, 2011, Sheldon Catholique rescued a badly injured woman from the wreckage of a small plane, which had crashed on an isolated and remote island in the Northwest Territories. Although injured in the crash himself, Mr. Catholique brought the victim a safe distance away and tended to her wounds for more than five hours until help arrived.
Justin Tak Chan, M.B. (posthumous)
Clarenville, Newfoundland and Labrador and Abbotsford, British Columbia
On August 6, 2011, Justin Tak Chan lost his life trying to rescue his girlfriend who had been swept away in the Cheakamus River, in Whistler, British Columbia. During a fishing expedition, the woman suddenly lost her footing. Mr. Chan jumped in to grab hold of his girlfriend, but the current was too powerful. Unfortunately, they both perished.
The decoration awarded to the late Justin Chan will be given to his father, Mr. Stephen Chan.
Melville E. Farnell, M.B.
Shelburne, Ontario
On May 13, 2011, Melville Farnell rescued an injured man from a burning vehicle, following a collision on Highway 9, near Caledon, Ontario. The impact sent Mr. Farnell’s truck into the ditch, but he managed to get out and run to the victim’s vehicle, which had caught on fire. Despite the flames, Mr. Farnell pulled the victim out and dragged him a safe distance away.
Taylor John Gostick, M.B.
Parry Sound and McKellar, Ontario
On March 18, 2011, 15-year-old Taylor Gostick rescued his grandfather from a possible drowning in Lake Manitouwabing, in McKellar, Ontario. Taylor had been riding on his snowmobile when he saw his grandfather break through the ice on his ATV. Taylor ran to help, but also fell in. He quickly got out and, even though the ice kept breaking around them, he managed to grab the victim and pull him a safe distance away.
Adrien Grenier, M.B.
Altamont, Manitoba
On October 10, 2011, Adrien Grenier helped his three brothers escape from their burning house, in Altamont, Manitoba. With the main floor filled with fire and smoke, Mr. Grenier helped his brothers climb down a small, pitched roof to safety.
Constable Deanna Theresa Hagen, M.B.
Whitecourt and St. Albert, Alberta
On November 9, 2009, RCMP Constable Deanna Hagen rescued a young girl from a possible drowning in the Atlantic Ocean, in Coco Beach, Florida, U.S.A. Seeing the victim struggling in the water nearly half a kilometre away, Constable Hagen swam out to reach her side. Even though the panicked girl climbed onto her rescuer and pushed her under the surface several times, Constable Hagen still managed to swim against the powerful undertow and bring the girl safely back to the beach.
Daniel Henri, M.B.
Gatineau and Lac-Sainte-Marie, Quebec
On November 25, 2010, Daniel Henri came to his father’s aid following an accident, in Lac-Sainte-Marie, Quebec. The victim had mistakenly poured gasoline instead of diesel fuel to start a small fire, which ignited violently and caused the container to explode in his hands. Mr. Henri made his father roll on the ground to extinguish the fire which kept reigniting. Despite the burns on his hands, Mr. Henri was able to smother the flames and save his father’s life.
Dennis George Kerridge, M.B. (posthumous)
Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario
David Bruce Mayo, M.B.
Tecumseh, Ontario
On August 11, 2011, Dennis Kerridge and David Mayo were instrumental in the rescue of a man who was in danger of drowning in Georgian Bay, in Penetanguishene, Ontario. Both rescuers ran into the water and struggled through huge waves and the strong current. Mr. Mayo managed to reach the victim and bring him safely to the shore. Sadly, Mr. Kerridge, who had suffered a heart attack during the rescue, collapsed on the beach and could not be revived.
The decoration awarded to the late Dennis Kerridge will be presented to his family at a later date.
James Patrick Kitchen, M.B.
Squamish, British Columbia
William Dennis Ward, M.B.
Calgary, Alberta
On March 13, 2011, helicopter pilot James Kitchen and William Ward rescued two Inuit hunters who had fallen through the ice, near Frobisher Bay, Nunavut. While Mr. Kitchen 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. Kitchen will be presented to him at a later date.
Devin Knot, M.B.
Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
Joshua Lasas, M.B.
Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
Brett Austin Opikokew, M.B.
Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan
On April 11, 2009, Devin Knot, Joshua Lasas and Brett Opikokew rescued a woman and her three children from a submerged vehicle, near Makwa, Saskatchewan. After the men entered the cold, murky water to reach and assist the victims, everyone safely made their way back to the road to wait for assistance.
The decoration awarded to Mr. Knot will be presented to him at a later date.
Juliette Rose Kokokons, M.B.
Terrace Bay, Ontario
On May 22, 2011, 12-year-old Juliette Kokokons rescued a friend who had accidentally grabbed a high-voltage wire to break her fall, in Terrace Bay, Ontario. Juliette tried to free her friend’s hold, but she too received a powerful shock. Undeterred, she hurled herself at her friend, knocking her away from the cable. Thanks to Juliette’s quick reaction, the girl survived.
Corporal Dale M. Kurdziel, M.B.
Nepean, Ontario and Fredericton, New Brunswick
On February 19, 2010, Corporal Dale Kurdziel placed himself at great risk in order to defuse a large improvised explosive device (IED), in Afghanistan. With the IED located in a confined space, Corporal Kurdziel volunteered to dismantle it by hand. Equipped with a flashlight, he used his feet and elbows to propel himself inside. It took nearly two hours for Corporal Kurdziel to successfully remove all the IED components.
Warrant Officer Angel Margaret MacEachern, M.B., C.D.
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Kingston, Ontario
On July 13, 2011, while on holiday, Warrant Officer Angel MacEachern rescued a boy who was in danger of drowning at Ingonish Beach, Nova Scotia. Without any rescue equipment available, Warrant Officer MacEachern swam out against the strong current to reach the boy and struggled in the choppy water to bring him safely to the beach.
Constable Susan McCormick, M.B.
Windsor, Ontario
On November 25, 2011, Constable Susan McCormick, of the Windsor Police Service, rescued a suicidal man who was in danger of drowning in the Detroit River, in Windsor, Ontario. Constable McCormick entered the freezing water and struggled in the fast-moving current to reach the unconscious man and bring him closer to shore, where others helped pull them both out.
Brian Darrell McRae, M.B.
Calgary, Alberta
On April 6, 2011, City of Calgary firefighter Brian McRae rescued four people from a possible drowning, in Varadero, Cuba. He swam out, grabbed the first victim and led the second exhausted man to safety. A short time later, he noticed two other men struggling in the huge waves. Once more, Mr. McRae entered the water to reach their side and brought them to shallow water, where they could walk to shore.
Kelly Natomagan, M.B.
Pinehouse Lake and Air Ronge, Saskatchewan
Logan Natomagan, M.B.
Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan
On November 27, 2009, Kelly Natomagan and his nephew, Logan Natomagan, rescued an older relative who had fallen through the ice, in Pinehouse Lake, Saskatchewan. Kelly pushed a small canoe towards the hole, climbed aboard and cautiously pulled the victim into it. Logan then crawled on the fragile surface, grabbed the safety line and towed the canoe onto more solid ice.
Carly Laura Nikirk, M.B.
Texada Island, British Columbia, and Calgary, Alberta
On July 6, 2011, Carly Nikirk rescued a woman from a possible drowning, off the coast of Texada Island, British Columbia. Despite the strong current and the high waves, Ms. Nikirk pulled the victim to a nearby buoy until two men arrived in a small boat and brought them back closer to shore.
Sergeant Jacob J. Perkins, M.B.
Mountain Grove, Missouri and Evans Mills, New York, U.S.A.
On July 22, 2011, Sergeant Jacob Perkins, of the United States Army, helped evacuate several Canadian passengers from a burning bus, on Highway I-90, in New York State, U.S.A. After assisting two passengers out, Sergeant Perkins went back inside the burning vehicle to search for other possible victims. Finding no one else aboard, he rushed out of the blaze to safety.
Brennan Ellard Richardson, M.B.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Ottawa, Ontario
On January 11, 2011, Brennan Richardson prevented a man armed with a Molotov cocktail from robbing a gas station, in Ottawa, Ontario. As the suspect lit the fuse, Mr. Richardson managed to grab hold of his arms and prevent him from throwing it in the store. The device ended up near the gas pumps, but it was extinguished in time and a tragedy was avoided, thanks to Mr. Richardson’s efforts.
Marko Romic, M.B.
Toronto, Ontario
Jason Daniel Totté, M.B.
The Pas and Thompson, Manitoba
On July 4, 2011, following a plane crash, pilot Marko Romic and passenger Jason Totté risked their lives in an attempt to rescue another passenger from the burning wreck, in Pukatawagan, Manitoba. They desperately tried to pull the unresponsive victim out of the plane, but had to retreat as the fire intensified, engulfing the wreckage in flames.
Sergeant John L. Jorginson, M.B.
Orillia, Ontario
Alexander C. Robertson, M.B.
Bracebridge, Ontario
David William Simpson, M.B.
Bracebridge, Ontario
On May 12, 2011, Alexander Robertson, David Simpson, and off-duty Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant John Jorginson rescued a woman from a burning vehicle, in Bracebridge, Ontario. Despite the thick smoke and intensifying flames, the rescuers managed to pull the injured victim out of the car and bring her to safety.
The decorations awarded to Sergeant Jorginson and Mr. Robertson were presented at a previous ceremony.
Jonathan Storring, M.B.
Kingston and Petawawa, Ontario
On June 20, 2011, Jonathan Storring rescued a girl who was in danger of drowning in the Petawawa River, in Ontario. Mr. Storring swam out to the victim and struggled against the strong current to bring her to shore, where their friends pulled them both out of the water.
Mark Van Sickle, M.B. (posthumous)
Stouffville, Ontario
George Thomas Ward, M.B.
Stouffville, Ontario
On June 24, 2011, Mark Van Sickle and George Ward attempted to rescue a friend who had fallen from their boat into the St. Lawrence River, in Kingston, Ontario. Mr. Van Sickle immediately jumped into the water and pulled the victim to the surface, while Mr. Ward stopped the boat and then dove in to help. Sadly, neither the victim nor Mr. Van Sickle, who had both disappeared beneath the surface, survived the ordeal.
The decoration awarded to the late Mark Van Sickle will be given to his wife, Ms. Anne Jones.
Jeffrey Wakeham, M.B.
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia and Sherwood Park, Alberta
On November 4, 2011, Jeffrey Wakeham rescued a woman from a burning house, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Mr. Wakeham crawled under the thick, black smoke to find the unconscious victim and bring her safely outside.
Corporal Scott Joseph Young, M.B.
Bell Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Inuvik, Northwest Territories
On June 17, 2010, RCMP Corporal Scott Young rescued a suicidal woman from the Slave River, in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. He swam out several hundreds of metres in the frigid, fast-moving river to reach the victim. Despite her protests, he was able to pull her to safety.
