Star of Courage

• Awarded on: April 15, 1991
• Invested on: June 21, 1991

On November 16, 1989, James Robert Chapman rescued two people from a burning mobile home in Edmonton, Alberta. Observing flames in a neighbouring residence, Mr. Chapman broke one of its windows, yelled inside, but heard no response from any of the four occupants. Prevented by flames from entering by the front door, he ran to his dwelling to alert the authorities and returned. He hastened to another window and met one of the two adult occupants who was crying out that her children were inside. Mr. Chapman entered through the window and located a boy lying unconscious on the floor. He passed him through the window to others and returned into the smoke-filled room to find the boy's unconscious father. He lifted him out of the window and, despite the extremely hazardous conditions, re-entered in a vain attempt to locate the second child. Forced to exit the crumbling home, Mr. Chapman abandoned the blaze to the authorities who were also unable to save the child.