Vol. 135, No 35 — September 1, 2001

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

THE ORDER OF MILITARY MERIT

The Governor General, the Right Honourable ADRIENNE CLARKSON, Chancellor and Commander of the Order of Military Merit, in accordance with the Constitution of the Order of Military Merit, has appointed the following:

Commanders of the Order of Military Merit

Brigadier-General Murray C. Farwell, C.D.
Major-General R. J. Hillier, C.D.
(see footnote a)Rear-Admiral David Christopher Morse, O.M.M., C.D.
Brigadier-General Jerry S. T. Pitzul, C.D.

Officers of the Order of Military Merit

Lieutenant-Colonel Beverley Emily Anderson, C.D.
Brigadier-General Joseph Jacques Charles Bouchard, C.D.
Colonel J. H. R. Pierre Cadotte, C.D.
Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret'd) Ross Frederick Carruthers, C.D.
Lieutenant-Colonel Gregory J. Cook, C.D.
Colonel Dorothy Cooper, C.D.
Lieutenant-Colonel James Philip Doherty, C.D.
Colonel Ronald Aubrey Gillespie, C.D.
Colonel Brian George Handley, C.D.
Major Peter George Harbert, C.D.
Major Norman Charles Heward, C.D.
Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret'd) Roman Johann Jarymowycz, C.D.
Captain (N) Hans Jung, C.D.
Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Lucien Michel Laporte, C.D.
Brigadier-General Joseph Guillaume Jean-Charles Lemieux, M.S.C., C.D.
Colonel John Paul Lespérance, C.D.
Commander Marion Holly MacDougall, C.D.
Lieutenant-Colonel John Charles Madower, C.D.
Commander Thomas Francis Manning, C.D.
Colonel Paul John McCabe, C.D.
Commander John Brian McCarthy, C.D.
Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Gerard Mitchell, C.D.
Colonel Walter John Natynczyk, C.D.
Captain (N) John Keith Olsen, C.D.
Captain (N) Adrian Wycherley Round, C.D.
Major Erik R. C. Simundson, C.D.
Commander Catherine Ruth Slaunwhite, C.D.
Colonel Dennis Charles Tabbernor, C.D.

Members of the Order of Military Merit

Chief Warrant Officer Harold Clifford Charles Andrews, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Anthony Balogh, C.D.
Captain Clayton Boyd Barnes, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Ward D. Brown, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Susan Marie Carr, C.D.
Captain Joseph André Roméo Chouinard, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Leslie John Closs, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Claude Gilles Compagnat, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st class (Ret'd) Gordon Armand Corbin, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Gary Edward Crocker, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Daniel George Dietrich, C.D.
Warrant Officer Doug Donnelly, C.D.
Captain Raefe Alan Laurence Douthwaite, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer David Druce, C.D.
Captain Joseph Jacques André Duchemin, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Frederick Lucien Durelle, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph Aza Georges Michel Filiatreault, C.D.
Warrant Officer Dave Anthony Fisher, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Joseph Marcel Yvan Normand Fournier, C.D.
Sergeant Marie Céline Élia Gagnon, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Douglas Albert Hall, C.D.
Captain Christopher Martin Hann, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Douglas Ross Harvey, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Paul David Helston, C.D.
Petty Officer 1st Class David Llewellyn Horlick, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Paul Stephen Hutchings, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Shane Irvine, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer James Richard Jobes, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Robert Wayne Johnston, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Joseph Pierre Bertrand Lafleur, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph David Laurie LeBlanc, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Gerald Thomas Manning, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Martin Joseph Massicotte, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Daniel George McCoy, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Steven James Morrow, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Etienne Roger Munger, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Drew Joseph Nelligan, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class David Clement Nute, C.D.
Captain Dennis Gerald O'Connor, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Sylvain Mario Ouellet, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Robert Leonard Page, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Normand Parent, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Michael Shane Patterson, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Steven William Perry, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Garfield Alexander Reid, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Vincent Rioux, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Adrien Gilles Rodrigue, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Guy Bernard Roy, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Joseph Serge Reno St-Germain, C.D.
Master Seaman Kathryn Diane Thom, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Raymond Jean-Guy Trudel, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Luc Vaive, C.D.
Captain Timothy Daniel Clarence Wallace, C.D.
Master Warrant Officer Richard James Whitaker, C.D.
Warrant Officer (Ret'd) Andréa Marie White, C.D.
Chief Warrant Officer Wilfred Edward Charles Wityshyn, C.D.
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Glenn Malcolm Woolfrey, C.D.

Witness the Seal of the Order
of Military Merit this twenty-ninth
day of September, two thousand

BARBARA UTECK
Secretary General
of the Order of Military Merit

[35-1-o]

CANADIAN BRAVERY DECORATIONS

The Governor General, the Right Honourable ADRIENNE CLARKSON, on the recommendation of the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee, has awarded bravery decorations as follows:

Medal of Bravery

WILLIAM WESLEY BATEMAN, M.B.
Midland, Ontario

On September 10, 1999, Wesley Bateman rescued a man from a burning van following a collision with another vehicle near Waubaushene, Ontario. The impact had killed the two occupants of the out-of-control car and set fire to the van, leaving its unconscious driver slumped against the steering wheel, with flames spreading on the floor and the console. Struggling in vain with the door, Mr. Bateman climbed onto the roof and, with the help of others, succeeded in bending the door frame enough to gain access to the driver. With the intensifying fire burning his face and arm, Mr. Bateman reached inside and persevered until he was able to pull the severely injured driver partially out. Others then helped complete the rescue and carry the man a safe distance away moments before fire destroyed the vehicle.

Medal of Bravery

DALE BRADY, M.B.
Valemount, British Columbia

MASTER-CORPORAL WAYDE LEE SIMPSON, M.B., C.D. Brighton, Ontario

On July 23, 2000, civilian Dale Brady and MCpl Wayde Simpson rescued a commercial pilot and two passengers whose plane had crashed on a mountainside near Valemount, British Columbia. With daylight fading and a military helicopter unavailable for hours, Mr. Brady agreed to pilot his Bell 2006 Jet Ranger to the crash site, with MCpl Simpson and another Search and Rescue technician on board. Once he reached the foggy area, Mr. Brady hovered precariously above the tall dense trees while MCpl Simpson rappelled to the rough terrain below. Informed that the victims were not near the wreck, Mr. Brady flew at tree top altitude until he spotted their flashlight signals at a river, more than one kilometre away. After lowering the other SAR Tech by rope near the victims, Mr. Brady went back for MCpl Simpson who was unable to hike down the steep and slippery terrain. MCpl Simpson grabbed hold of the rope and dangled below the craft despite strong wind gusts which rocked him like a pendulum and risked destabilizing the helicopter. Once at the river, Mr. Brady lowered MCpl Simpson to the ground where he joined his colleague in caring for the severely injured victims until the next day, when a Labrador helicopter was able to lift them out.

Medal of Bravery

JEAN CHARLEBOIS, M.B.
Ottawa, Ontario

BLAIR THOMAS, M.B.
Ottawa, Ontario

On August 8, 2000, Jean Charlebois and Blair Thomas risked their lives to rescue a man from a burning building in Ottawa, Ontario. Alerted by fire alarms and seeing smoke coming from a second-floor window of a rooming house, both men ran into the building to search for occupants but were forced back outside twice by the intense heat and choking smoke. While Mr. Charlebois caught his breath, Mr. Thomas returned upstairs for the third time and located a man who appeared dazed. Despite the spreading flames, he guided him out of the burning home before racing back in to continue his search for other victims. In zero visibility and with the fire conditions worsening rapidly, he became disoriented and could no longer find his way to the door. Concerned about Mr. Thomas' safety, Mr. Charlebois re-entered the building and, hearing his cries for help, felt his way along the walls to the second floor where he found him, then guided him outside to safety.

Medal of Bravery

ELLIOT RALPH COLE, M.B.
Port Alice, British Columbia

On February 8, 2001, Elliot Cole rescued a man from a vicious cougar attack near Port Alice, British Columbia. Mr. Cole was driving home late from work when he saw a cougar mauling and biting a man who had been riding a bicycle. Mr. Cole jumped out of his truck, yelling to distract the animal. Seeing that the cat would not release its hold, Mr. Cole struck it many times with his book bag, then repeatedly punched it, but the beast continued its attack on the man's face and neck. Mr. Cole grabbed the man's bicycle and pinned the cougar under the wheels. This allowed the victim to break free and run to the truck. Although the animal managed to squeeze its paw through the spokes to attempt to maul him, Mr. Cole continued to fight it until the dazed animal relented temporarily. He then escaped to his vehicle and drove the man to a hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

Medal of Bravery

JACQUES COUILLARD, M.B.
Baie-des-Sables, Quebec

On August 7, 2000, Jacques Couillard risked his life by confronting an armed man at the Caisse populaire in Baie-des-Sables, Quebec. When an individual appeared at the glass door of the establishment and refused to identify himself, a cashier asked Mr. Couillard, the branch manager, to handle the situation. Mr. Couillard went to the entrance and, noting the man's strange behaviour, asked him to remove his tinted glasses. The suspect then brandished a weapon he was hiding behind his back and fired several shots at Mr. Couillard, hitting him in the shoulder and the head. Despite the force of the impact, a still-conscious Mr. Couillard struggled with his aggressor. Another shot was fired, hitting the bank manager again. Other people then came to his assistance, tied up the aggressor, who was attempting to flee, and restrained him until the police arrived.

Medal of Bravery

CAPTAIN DENIS COUTURE, M.B.
Val-Bélair, Quebec

On November 5, 2000, Denis Couture attempted to save a man from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean in Freetown in Sierra Leone. Capt Couture had been swimming near the shore when he noticed that a swimmer was in distress some 100 metres out. Without hesitation, Capt Couture swam through the rough waves until he reached the unresponsive victim's side. Battling the strong current, he struggled to keep the man's head above water, repeatedly submerging his own body to push the drowning victim to the surface. Although weakened by his efforts, he managed to bring the man closer to shore. In complete exhaustion and having swallowed a large amount of water, Capt Couture collapsed as others arrived to provide assistance. Sadly, the victim did not survive the ordeal.

Medal of Bravery

MATHIEU CUSSON, M.B.
Granby, Quebec

On July 5, 2000, 13-year-old Mathieu Cusson saved his father from drowning after their canoe capsized during a fishing trip at Comencho Lake, near Chibougamau, Quebec. Mathieu, his father and a visiting friend were returning to shore with their catch shortly after lunch when their five-metre freighter canoe was capsized by two large waves. The three struggled repeatedly to remove the outboard motor and attempt to straighten the canoe in 4°C water and wave action that pushed them farther out. As hypothermia began to set in, Mathieu saw his friend remove his life jacket and let himself drift away. Although weak, he swam to the unconscious teenager and brought him back to the canoe where his father was fighting to stay awake. With his father holding onto his friend, Mathieu swam with them in tow to a large rock, some 15 minutes away. While he and his father survived their five-hour ordeal, sadly, his friend did not.

Medal of Bravery

DANIEL DOUVILLE, M.B.
Laval, Quebec

In the early hours of May 16, 1999, Daniel Douville rescued two children from a burning third-floor apartment in Laval, Quebec. Alerted to the fire by the children's mother, Mr. Douville raced up from the second floor and entered the smoke-filled apartment. Braving the intense heat, he reached the three-year-old's bedroom and lifted him in his arms. Although struck by a fire ball that burned his neck as he neared the nine-year-old's room, Mr. Douville carried on with the evacuation of the young victims to the safety of the balcony. Informed that the children's four-year-old cousin was missing, he rushed back inside but was forced back out by the spreading flames. Undeterred and with burns to his feet, he wrapped himself in a wet comforter and re-entered the apartment only to be forced out again when his blanket began to steam and burn. Regrettably, despite Mr. Douville's best effort, the child could not be saved.

Medal of Bravery

SERGEANT BARRY DOYLE, M.B., C.D.
Kingston, Nova Scotia

SERGEANT ÉRIC JOSEPH GÉRARD LAROUCHE, M.B., M.S.M., C.D.
Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia

On the morning of August 7, 1999, Barry Doyle and Éric Larouche jumped from a Canadian Forces Hercules into the heavy North Atlantic seas to save the life of a severely burnt sailor on board a container ship. When the Search and Rescue team reached the vessel, some 500 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland, the conditions were poor with low clouds, high winds and six-metre swells. Knowing that they could be lost at sea if they jumped too far from the vessel, Sgts Doyle and Larouche narrowly avoided the gyrating antennas and managed to drop into the lee of the boat. Wind was strong and Sgt Larouche's inflated parachute dragged him some distance before he managed to cut it away, unable to collapse it. With the large carrier moving dangerously closer, both rescuers were then picked up by a small lifeboat launched from the carrier and were able to carry out their mission of caring for the injured man.

Medal of Bravery

JOHN GETCHELL, M.B.
Levack, Ontario

On April 10, 1999, John Getchell prevented his 19-year-old daughter from being struck by an out-of-control snowmobile in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Mr. Getchell was watching a race with his daughter when one of the snowmobiles missed a sharp turn, flew over a retaining snowbank and crashed through the spectator fence at high speed. Fearing for the life of his daughter who was frozen with fear in the direct path of the runaway vehicle, Mr. Getchell did not hesitate to rush to her and push her out of harm's way. In a split second, he was struck by the snowmobile and thrown to the ground. As a result of his valiant efforts to protect his daughter, Mr. Getchell suffered fractures to both legs.

Star of Courage

CONSTABLE LOUIS GIGNAC, S.C.
Québec, Quebec

On October 5, 1999, Louis Gignac, a civilian police officer with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, contributed to saving the lives of seven civilian Serbs who were being attacked by an angry Albanian mob. Cst. Gignac had been assigned to escort a funeral procession involving 25 deceased Albanians and some 5 000 mourners. When they reached a main road and the convoy became trapped in a traffic jam immediately beside two ethnic Serbs' vehicles, the Albanian crowd attacked, killing two Serbs who attempted to flee. One of the first members at the scene, Cst. Gignac was protecting the remaining Serb victims when he became the target of rocks and other projectiles, including a Molotov cocktail which exploded directly behind him and set fire to his uniform. For more than one hour, he and his colleagues formed a semicircle around the two vehicles to shield the remaining Serbs from the escalating violence until the French military forces were able to remove them to safety.

Medal of Bravery

WAYNE WESLEY GREEN, M.B.
Westlock, Alberta

During the evening of October 23, 1998, Wayne Green rescued a man from a burning minivan near Bezanson, Alberta. Mr. Green was returning home from work with two colleagues when he came upon the scene of a horrific collision between a one-ton pickup truck and a minivan. While the passengers of the truck escaped with minor injuries, a severely injured man was trapped inside the minivan that had exploded on impact before careening into nearby trees and claiming the lives of a woman and two children. With gasoline spraying from the ruptured gas tank and the fire quickly engulfing the vehicle, Mr. Green stepped inside the wreck through a ripped-off door. Despite cuts and burns to his hands, he lifted the victim out of the passenger seat and carried him a safe distance away moments before the vehicle erupted into a fireball.

Medal of Bravery

MELISSA DAWN HALL, M.B.
Toronto, Ontario

On July 23, 1998, Melissa Hall saved a friend from drowning in Halfway Brook, Cape Breton Highlands National Park, in Ingonish, Nova Scotia. Ms. Hall and her family were swimming in a river when a friend found himself in difficulty some 50 metres from shore. Seeing that her father also got in trouble when he was dragged under by the panicked victim, Ms. Hall jumped into the water to help, which allowed her father to return to shore. As she reached the drowning man, he grabbed hold of her in a desperate attempt to stay afloat and repeatedly pulled her under the surface. Gasping for air, but determined to save his life, she persisted in her attempts to keep him from sinking. In complete exhaustion, she managed to pull him close to shore where she grabbed onto a rock and helped him out of the water.

Medal of Bravery

JOHN CALDWELL MACLEOD, M.B.
Ross Ferry, Nova Scotia

MARY-ROSE MACLEOD, M.B.
Ross Ferry, Nova Scotia

On August 8, 1999, John and Mary-Rose MacLeod attempted to rescue a man from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean, in Inverness, Nova Scotia. Seeing two brothers in difficulty some 100 metres out, Mr. and Mrs. MacLeod fought the strong current until they reached their side. They handed a piece of driftwood to the stronger of the two and instructed him to swim to safety. They then turned the other individual on his back and, each holding one of his arms, they headed for shore. While Mr. MacLeod struggled to keep the victim's head out of the water, Mrs. MacLeod attempted rescue breathing several times along the way but the high surf and a strong riptide made it very difficult. With diminishing strength and the unconscious man in tow, they continued to battle the rough waters until others arrived to provide assistance near the shore. Sadly, the victim could not be revived.

Star of Courage

GARY ERNEST MERLIN, S.C.
Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

On December 20, 2000, Gary Merlin saved a six-year-old girl from a house fire in Surrey, British Columbia. Mr. Merlin was visiting friends when he was awakened by cries for help and the smell of smoke. Mr. Merlin and the friends' two older daughters had exited the house when they realized that the six-year-old girl was missing. Mr. Merlin dashed back in and was struck by a fireball. After running back out to extinguish the flames on his head by rolling on the grass, he re-entered the house and followed the little girl's cries through the dense smoke. He found the young victim on her bed, hiding under the covers. Although he wrapped the child and himself in quilts, both were seriously burned when the bedroom erupted into flames. Disoriented, Mr. Merlin tried to retrace his steps but the path to the front door was blocked by fire so he rushed the girl into another room where he punched out a double-pane window with his forearm. Despite a deep cut to his wrist, he then escaped the inferno by jumping out of the window, holding the child tightly. Although severely injured, both Mr. Merlin and the child recovered.

Medal of Bravery

JOHN MITCHELL, M.B.
Dawson City, Yukon

On April 10, 1998, John Mitchell confronted two Rottweilers who were savagely attacking a six-year-old boy in Dawson City, Yukon. Alerted by the sounds of dogs fighting, Mr. Mitchell grabbed a camping stove and a metal pail from his truck and attempted to distract the dogs by making loud noises and yelling at them. Seeing that the enraged animals did not stop their attack, he began beating them off with the stove and pail. As the dogs turned on him, he managed to get the severely injured boy to his feet. Under the dogs' intensified attack, he was able to back away with the young victim, while repeatedly hitting the dogs, until he finally reached the safety of his truck. He then drove the child to a nursing station for treatment before being evacuated to Vancouver for extensive surgery. Thankfully, the boy survived the ordeal.

Medal of Bravery

CONSTABLE DAVID RODNEY NICHOLSON, M.B.
(Posthumous), Waterloo, Ontario

SENIOR CONSTABLE CURTIS RUTT, M.B.
Belwood, Ontario

CONSTABLE ROBERT SAUVE, M.B.
Kitchener, Ontario

On August 12, 1998, Curtis Rutt and Robert Sauve risked their lives trying to save David Nicholson who had become trapped underwater while attempting to rescue a twelve-year-old boy at the Grand River's Parkhill Dam, in Cambridge, Ontario. Responding to a call, diver Nicholson jumped into the water and was searching among the jutting wall abutments when he was sucked inside the sluice by the tremendous force of the water. Finding himself trapped because his scuba tank was wedged in a hole, he sent a distress signal through his lifeline. Seeing that efforts by several others to pull his partner out failed, Cst. Sauve jumped in but he too was sucked into the sluice near Cst. Nicholson. He was able to pull himself free and return to the surface before making two more unsuccessful attempts to dislodge his partner. Cst. Rutt then descended with a scuba tank rigged to a long pole but the tank was sucked into the hole as he neared the victim. Cst. Rutt returned to shore for a guide rope and, with a tremendous effort, managed to tie it close to his colleague. Regrettably, when the line was pulled up, Cst. Nicholson's regulator hose was attached to it, ending all hope of a successful rescue. The bodies of the boy and of Cst. Nicholson were recovered later.

Medal of Bravery

JENNIFER PARSONS, M.B.
Langley, British Columbia

On June 14, 2000, Jennifer Parsons risked her life to rescue a five-year-old boy who had fallen into the swollen Nicomekl River, in Langley, British Columbia. Alerted by her daughter that the boy was being carried downstream, Ms. Parsons ran to the river bank but, unable to locate him, entered the freezing waters, calling out to the child. Swept beyond her depth by the strong current, she managed to make her way to the victim who was crying, desperately clinging to some branches. Hampered by the strong undertow, she grabbed hold of the branches while clutching at the boy. Numbed by the cold water, she struggled to keep herself and the young victim's head above water until they were rescued, some 25 minutes later.

Medal of Bravery

THOMAS PASSAFIUME, M.B. (Posthumous)
Brantford, Ontario

On July 7, 1999, Thomas Passafiume lost his life after rescuing two people from drowning, in Port Maitland, Ontario. While swimming in Lake Erie, a 12-year-old girl was swept into deep water by the strong undertow. A bystander went in to assist her but she too was caught in the high waves and became separated from the child. Alerted from nearby by cries for help, Mr. Passafiume, although not a strong swimmer, swam towards the young girl, reaching her some 15 metres away. He grabbed hold of her and, using all his strength, pushed her towards the shore, where other people pulled her out of the water. Mr. Passafiume then made his way to the woman who was still struggling and pushed her into shallower water until she could swim to safety on her own. Sadly, Mr. Passafiume lost his struggle with the fierce undertow and although his body was quickly recovered, he could not be revived.

Medal of Bravery

SHAUL PETEL, M.B.
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec

YONATAN S. PETEL, M.B.
Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec

On July 22, 1997, Yonatan Petel and his father, Shaul Petel, risked their lives to save a 12-year-old girl and her father from drowning in the Atlantic Ocean at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, U.S.A. Yonatan was walking along the beach when he heard a woman shouting for help, pointing at the ocean. He immediately alerted his father and together, Yonatan and Shaul Petel ran into the rough waters and swam in the direction of the drowning swimmers, reaching the child first. As Yonatan was repeatedly pulled under the surface by the panic-stricken girl, Shaul took her on his back and, struggling against the fierce undertow and high waves, brought her to shore. Meanwhile, shouting for his father's assistance, Yonatan swam out to the girl's father floating face down in the high surf and reached him some 20 metres away. Unable to haul the unconscious victim in, he returned to shallower waters, then swam back with a flotation device and gave it to his father who, although exhausted, had returned to the water to help. Sadly, in spite of Shaul and Yonatan's efforts, the victim died in the hospital a few days later.

Medal of Bravery

SERGEANT KENNETH JAMES POWER, S.C., M.B., C.D.
Kingston, Nova Scotia

MASTER CORPORAL SYLVAIN JOSEPH ROGER TRUDEL, M.B., C.D.
Kingston, Nova Scotia

On October 3, 1999, Kenneth Power (see footnote b) and Sylvain Trudel dived at night from a Hercules aircraft to rescue two men whose Cessna float plane had crashed into a deep and narrow valley north of Havre-Saint-Pierre, in Quebec. Equipped with night vision goggles, the Search and Rescue technicians located the plane upside down on the shore of a small wooded island surrounded by 600-metre cliffs. Fearing for the victims' lives and with the Labrador rescue helicopter some five hours away, Sgt Power and MCpl Trudel elected to effect a risky flare-illuminated parachute descent into the rugged and mountainous terrain. Tossed around by the valley's high wind turbulence, they managed to clear the top of the cliffs and the trees and landed a short distance from the crash site. Sgt Power and MCpl Trudel then collected their medical gear and cared for the injured survivors until the rescue helicopter arrived to airlift them to safety, some two hours later.

Medal of Bravery

BENOÎT ROY, M.B.
Lachenaie, Quebec

On May 21, 2000, Benoît Roy attempted in vain to save a man from drowning in the Mille-Îles River in Laval, Quebec. The man and his three-year-old son had accidentally fallen into the deep water beside a marina dock. Alerted by their cries, Mr. Roy rushed to the scene and witnessed the non-swimmer's frantic attempts to stay afloat by holding onto his son's life jacket. Realizing that both father and son were in danger, Mr. Roy jumped into the rough, frigid waters. Although the panicked man grabbed hold of him when he reached their side, Mr. Roy managed to pull the little boy's face out of the water and turn him onto his back before being dragged under by the man. As the child drifted away with the strong current, Mr. Roy was repeatedly pulled below the surface while he and the victim were also carried farther out. Knowing that despite his best efforts, the man had lost his fight some 300 metres out, Mr. Roy swam back to shore in complete exhaustion. Fortunately, the child was picked up by boaters, some 30 metres from shore.

Medal of Bravery

GUNTER SENKOWSKI, M.B.
Courtenay, British Columbia

On April 15, 1999, Gunter Senkowski rescued a Canadian couple from a disabled sailboat, some 60 kilometres off Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A. Mr. Senkowski was Chief Officer on a cargo-passenger ship when a distress call was received from the sailboat whose engine had caught fire in stormy weather. The rolling seas made it dangerous to come alongside the powerless sailboat, which was bouncing in three-metre waves. Aware that the captain, who had inhaled toxic fumes, needed urgent medical assistance, Mr. Senkowski jumped into the tumultuous Atlantic Ocean and swam the 100 metres that separated the two vessels. He first climbed into a small dinghy, then on board the sailboat. After putting the fire out and securing the sail, he was able to manoeuvre the vessel alongside the much larger ship and lifted the two people up to his crew mates. The man was later airlifted to a hospital while Mr. Senkowski remained on the sailboat with a crew member until the Coast Guard towed it to safety.

Medal of Bravery

F. MITCHELL SMITH, M.B.
Stittsville, Ontario

MARGARET MARY SMITH, M.B.
Stittsville, Ontario

On October 4, 2000, Margaret and Mitchell Smith placed their lives in danger to help a critically injured woman who was being stabbed outside the Smith house by her disturbed husband, in Stittsville, Ontario. Witness to the assault, Mr. Smith ran outside and, without hesitation, tackled the knife-wielding man in an attempt to subdue him. Knocked to the ground in his efforts to turn the assailant's attention away from the victim, Mr. Smith sustained severe stab injuries to his back and chest. Mrs. Smith, ignoring the danger, tried to intervene by grabbing the two knives away from the assailant, resulting in serious cuts to her hand. While Mrs. Smith ran back inside the house to call the police, Mr. Smith managed to break free from the attacker who then walked away. Thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Smith's quick intervention, the seriously injured victim survived the ordeal.

Medal of Bravery

GARY DOUGLAS TREVORS, M.B.
Kentville, Kings County, Nova Scotia

On August 20, 1999, Gary Douglas Trevors risked his life when he climbed down a steep cliff to rescue a four-year-old boy who had fallen into a crevice, in Blomidon Provincial Park, Nova Scotia. The youngster, out on a hiking trip with family and friends, had ventured dangerously close to the edge when he lost his footing and slipped under the wooden railing. Hitting his head as he went over the ledge, he landed some 20 metres below onto rocks, his fall partly cushioned by a large tree. Alerted to the scene, Mr. Trevors, although fully aware of the danger, proceeded to climb down the steep rock face using a rope and exposed tree roots as a ladder to reach the gully where the boy lay injured. In spite of their precarious position, he immediately administered first aid, using his limited equipment to try to stop the bleeding from the boy's injuries. Mr. Trevors stayed with the young victim, reassuring him and keeping him alert until help arrived, some 45 minutes later.

Medal of Bravery

GLENN ANTHONY WHITE, M.B.
Cambridge, Ontario

On April 25, 1998, Glenn Anthony White rescued a man from drowning after his snowmobile plunged into the icy Churchill River, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Mr. White was working at a nearby marina when he was alerted that two men had inadvertently driven into an opening in the ice and were struggling to get out of the freezing water. Without hesitation, Mr. White ran to the river and made his way onto the precariously thin surface, crawling as he neared the hole. While the first man managed to swim back towards the edge and pull himself out onto thicker ice, Mr. White, carefully inching out onto the cracking surface, reached into the extremely cold water and grabbed hold of the other man as he was sinking for the third time, pulled under by the strong current. Holding the semi-conscious victim by his jacket, he then hauled him out and together, they crawled on the ice until they reached the shore.

LGEN (Ret'd) JAMES C. GERVAIS, C.M.M., C.D.
Deputy Secretary

[35-1-o]

Footnote a

This is a promotion within the Order.

Footnote b

Sgt Power was previously awarded a Star of Courage for his rescue efforts during another incident.

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