Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 28, 1997
• Invested on: May 15, 1998

On February 15, 1995, Frank Larson saved three people from a burning house in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan. When fire broke out in the nearby kitchen, Mr. Larson shouted to alert the other occupants and awoke his companion and her three-year-old son, urging them to follow him. A wall of flames blocked the main entrance so Mr. Larson ran to the front door and, unable to open it, smashed the window. He returned to the bedroom where his companion had fallen back to sleep, shook her awake, grabbed the toddler and carried him outside through the broken window. Mr. Larson climbed back in and, assisted by his companion, carried another woman out. He then raced to the neighbours' house to alert the fire department and returned to search for his disoriented companion who had remained behind. The intense noise of the inferno made communication impossible so he crawled through the thick black smoke until he found the woman and brought her to safety. The three other victims were evacuated by the firefighters.