Medal of Bravery
Awarded on: 2004-04-23
Invested on: 2005-02-04
On March 9, 2002, Brian Brown saved two fishermen from being swept out to the open water by 90-kilometres-an-hour winds, on Lake of Bays, near Baysville, Ontario. Mr. Brown was ice-fishing when a violent rain storm rolled across the lake. He was picked up by the wind when he stepped out of his fishing hut and thrown face down on the slippery ice. As he clung to the semi-frozen surface to stop being swept away, he noticed dim lights farther out on the lake and, with great determination, managed to reach his all-terrain vehicle. Buffeted by the wind, he drove toward the first of two victims while struggling to maintain control of his vehicle and avoid water holes. Once he had reached the man and taken him to shore, Mr. Brown used a snowmobile to reach the second victim, much farther out, and returned him to safety.